2012-02-25
This short set of six songs were recorded at the same time as Lee's highly regarded 2011 disc "Mission Bell," and Lee continues the soulful guitar-vocal-and-piano combination that made "Bell" ring, assisted by members of Calexico. Some refer to Lee as the "male Norah Jones" of Blue Note, in that his easy-going soul-tinged songs have a similarity that mimics Jones's piano melodies; there's some truth in that, I suppose, but Lee shows off plenty of talent in writing, singing and playing. No knock on that. Perhaps the knock is that sometimes the songs can feel slowed by emotive weight (#1, $4 and at times #6, perhaps). Try out cuts #2 and #3 and see what you think. Great voice--and if these are out-takes, he has a deep bench of songs. 02/12 Michael J. F-SoulJack Radcliff & Al Oliveira
Two Hot to Handle
Justin Townes Earle
Midnight at the Movies
CHOCOLATE GENIUS
Swansongs
WAYNE “THE TRAIN” HANCOCK
Viper of Melody
RON SEXSMITH
Long Player Late Bloomer
Hazel Ra
The Shadows
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