In the music business, January is often treated like an extension of the Christmas season and traditionally album releases during this month are left to new or developing acts or established ‘critically praised’ but lower-selling artists.  Sometimes the artists seem to be both of these things and that’s precisely how I’d describe Amos Lee, a critically-praised and developing act, particularly after listening to his fourth album Mission Bell. 

The album, which is being released by Blue Note Records, is a fantastic roots music album chock full of interesting melodies, rhythms and lyrics.  Self-described as a singer/songwriter, Amos Lee went about making this album differently from any other album he’s made in the past.  Working with Calexico’s Joey Burns as his new producer, Amos was ‘forced’ to expand on his sound and to record his music different than he has ever before. 

When we talked with Amos around the time of the recording of “Colder Weather” with Zac Brown Band (for CMT), Amos mentioned trying to get his music closer to the fantastic levels of songwriters like Bill Withers and upon listening to Mission Bell over and over again the last few months, all I can say is he’s there or very near there.  He may not have a song like “Ain’t No Sunshine” yet, but songs like “Windows Are Rolled Down” and “Jesus” feel like they could be on a Withers record.  They’re perfectly visual and melodic slices of folksy R&B and showcase Lee’s fantastic, better than most voice as well. 

The song “Violin” (get it for FREE at iTunes)isn’t too far removed from a Zac Brown Band song while “Flower” – even with the 70’s folk-soul sound anchored in acoustic guitar, piano and soothing B3 - could be covered by somebody like David Nail or Billy Currington.   As a fan of story songs, I’ve been enthralled with “Out of the Cold” from the very moment I heard it on this record.  It’s the kind of song and songwriting that used to be a staple of even mainstream country album releases. 

“Hello Again” is grounded in folk music but features a tango-like melody backing up Amos as he sings of some heartbreak while booming trumpets in the background could drown out other singers, Amos with that beautiful tenor is able to rise above and act as a counter-point to them.  The album features alt-country icon Lucinda Williams as a duet on the rootsy and heartbreaking “Clear Blue Eyes” while one-time label mate Willie Nelson joins Amos for “Behind Me Now/El Camino Reprise,” a nine minute long tune (two songs really) that finds the two singers fantastically matched together. 

Another standout track on the album is “Learned A Lot,” a song that wouldn’t be outta place on one of Marvin Gaye’s records while "Cup Of Sorrow" is one of the best songs The Band never recorded.  Mission Bell truly is the kind of album that defies genre labeling and should instead be filtered into the easier-to-define Good or Bad system.  Not quite folk music, not quite soul music, not quite roots music, not quite country music, Mission Bell is instead just one of the finest American music albums released so far this year and an early contender for my Best of 2011 list.  

You can support Amos Lee by purchasing this album at Amazon | iTunes.

If you prefer your music to be more than ones and zeroes, you can purchas the album at Amazon.