Amos Lee’s music does not sound like a celebrity’s. Amos Lee’s music sounds like listening to an old friend. It feels like sitting down to catch up, hear his problems, partake in his sorrows and overcome them at his side. His music evokes memories listeners do not realize they have and a longing for a place they have never been — and will probably never visit — but desire all the same.
Lee’s fifth album, “Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song,” is no different. The album maintains Lee’s trademark southern twang as well as the relatable lyrics his longtime fans live for.
In an interview with About.com, Lee said he recorded with the artists who have toured with him to break new ground on “Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song.”
“I wanted to play these songs with people that I trust musically and stay open to where it took us. The touring band works really hard, they’re really musical, they’re a good hang, so it was cool to hole up for a few weeks and experience it together. In the singer-songwriter world, it can be sort of a solitary creative process, so it’s good to collaborate with people and bring songs to life together,” Lee said.
This creative collaboration resulted in a 12-track masterpiece that plays best as a complete album. The album has a cohesive flow, a swift current that ushers listeners down a nostalgic path colored with home, love and a sweet sense of self. It brings forth both heartache and hope. It is a cry of desperation and a triumphant revival of emotion. The tender finger picking of “Dresser Drawer” complements the lovesick ache of “Chill in the Air,” and mournful title track “Mountains of Sorrow” contrasts with the techno-flavored “Loretta.”
Folk and R&B laces “Mountains” but never overshadows the lovely country style Lee is known for, a genre label Lee said does not worry him, according to About.com.
“I can relate to soul, R&B … whatever people want to call me is fine. I just hope it makes them feel something,” he said.
Lee draws from the talents of country legends like Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan but all the while maintains a sense of his own musical territory.
Lee’s music is reminiscent of a time long past, but it also incites a fire of anticipation for the future.
