Amazon.com Customer Reviews
I love it! - Review written on January 30, 2007
Rating: 5 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.
This is a beautiful album from a very gifted singer/songwriter and I'm not surprised to note that amazon.com has declared it one of the best of 2005. I came across Amos Lee purely by chance and decided to take a risk on him after reading some of the reviews on here. I'm so glad I did. This is an album of great songs Lee wrote himself, an album of great music and an album that showcases a truly honest vocal performance. This is what real music is supposed to be all about and I get the sense he'd be even better performing live.
And I can understand why people speak of him and Norah Jones in the same breath; they are after all on the same label, they (now) share the same producer in Lee Alexander, the key elements of their music (real live instruments, the acoustic sound, the use of the Wurlitzer, the Hammond and so forth) are the same and Jones even plays piano, Wurlitzer and sings backing vocals on "Colors" but in my view, any similarities are fleeting at best. Lee's music is largely acoustic guitar driven, while Jones seems to generally favour the keyboards. Their singing styles are also completely different.
But that's all just my opinion. I'm no expert. I don't know what they call this kind of music but quite frankly I don't really care. All I know is that I love it. The eleven songs on the album seem to be all over way too soon, largely I guess, because the vast majority of the songs are just over two minutes long but I don't mind that. It just makes me want to play the album all over again.
Great stuff. Nice and relaxing. Highly recommended.
Refreshing - Review written on December 30, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
I discovered Amos Lee in the most random way - which is also usually the most rewarding. Getting home from work the other night, my wife had the TV tuned to a music video channel I didn't even know we had. An Amos Lee video came on, and I immediately picked up on the great vibe to the song, and the sincerity and soulfulness in Lee's voice. My wife changed the channel within 30 seconds - I don't think she was even paying attention - but not before I saw the name of the artist on the video. I immediately added this record - and his follow-up "Supply and Demand" to my online hold list at the local library and was finally able to listen to it this morning on my bus ride in to work.
Immediately I was able to notice similarities to Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and Norah Jones (whose signature piano sound I also recognized immediately on a couple of tracks, but wasn't sure it was actually her until I read a little bit more about this recording). But that's just it - you can make comparisons to these other artists, but Amos Lee also has his own unique voice and sound. He is perhaps on a parallel track with these other artists, but he is not traveling the exact same road. (One lyric, I admit, kind of annoyed me - "Every moral has a story" - which I'm pretty sure is also a line in a Ben Harper song. Hopefully Lee did not outright plagiarize...) All in all, without detailing every track on the album, this is a very worthwhile effort and we can only look forward to more great music from Amos Lee for years to come.
New Amos CD! - Review written on August 01, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
7 customers found this review helpful.
NEW YORK (Blue Note Records) - Amos Lee has recently begun recording his sophomore release for Blue Note. The Philadelphia native is tracking in his home city with the assistance of producer Barrie Maguire. A prolific writer at 27, Lee is in the process of whittling down a wealth of great new material he's penned since his successful self-titled debut. The album will document the soulful stylings of this exciting young singer/songwriter who is growing artistically by leaps and bounds.
Lee recorded the album in Los Angeles and his hometown Philadelphia after a prodigious writing period that yielded over 50 new songs.
The New Album album is called 'Supply and Demand' and it will be released october 3rd!
Amos Lee vocals, guitar;
Nate Skiles guitar, mandolin, vocals;
Chris Joyner piano, organ, Wurlitzer;
Jaron Olevsky bass, piano, vocals;
Fred Berman drums, percussion, vocals
Produced by Barrie Maguire
Blue Note Records 2006
Rare, True Talent - Review written on May 18, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.
Listening to the radio these days means three things: commercials, annoying announcers, and lots of crappy music. Some say it's impossible for radio stations to make everyone happy, but I'd be surprised if they're making anybody happy. Amos Lee isn't the kind of artist you hear on Top 40 radio, at least where I'm from. And that's a shame.
Amos Lee has talent. The producers and musicians associated with this project have talent as well. There's no sense of commercialization in this project. In fact, it feels very raw. Low key, earthy, calming, and very good. You'd be hard pressed to find another music experience like it. This is a CD that you will listen to again and again and again, the kind of music that the medium was made for. And here's hoping this is the shape of things to come.
stands the test of time - Review written on May 12, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful.
I don't write reviews; my opinion is my own and it only matters to those who love me. Still..."Amos Lee" stands the test of time. How long ago did I buy this CD? I played it to death when I got it. Had to go see Amos when he came to town. Talked my sister into going with me. "You'll like him, he's low key, kind of jazzy-bluesy-folk music." Recently popped the CD back into the CD player. It's still soooo good for relaxing, slowing down, chillin'. My daughter surprised me when the music started. She said, "Is this Amos Lee?!! I love this CD." And she's a 13 year old (self-described)orchestra nerd who loves modern hard rock: emo.
If you haven't gotten this one yet, but you've been thinking about it, stop waiting. It's intellingent, sophisticated, difficult to classify, and won't get old.
It's that song from the House episode.... - Review written on April 05, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.
I'm one of those people who 'discover' new music when i hear it on TV, at the movies etc... and not long ago, I saw that episode of House with the HIV guy who coughs on Dr. Cameron, and at the end was the song 'Colors'.
Within minutes, I had heard the sample on amazon.com, and the next day I bought the album. Unbelievably smooth, easy listening, with songs that both lift you up, and also infuse this feeling of melancholy that, surprisingly, soothes the soul.
A brilliant album - it's the only thing I've been listening to for the last few days.
sigh... - Review written on March 15, 2006
Rating: 5 out of 5
3 customers found this review helpful.
I'm in love. There's not much more I can say. The minute I heard Amos Lee's voice on a 30 second Amazon clip, I ordered the CD, and it was the best musical purchase I've made in a LONG time. This CD is ridiculously good. It's James Taylor meets Ben Harper meets the male Norah Jones with a little more soul. Usually when listening to music, people do other things (i.e. check your email, work, read a book, cook dinner, do laundry, sing along, etc.) This CD is NOT background music. It is music that you sit down, tune out everything around you, and just listen to.