Supply and Demand

Amos Lee

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 2006)
• Original Release Date: October 3, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000HKDEA6
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,158 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Born to be mild? Amos Lee's sophomore effort for Blue Note follows firmly in the gentle guitar strums of his well-received 2005 debut and opening slots for Norah Jones and Bob Dylan. Little has changed the second time around, which will come as a relief to those enthralled by his first release. He remains a sensitive sort, mixing his insightful, reflective lyrics with lovely, unforced melodies played by backing musicians that stay on low boil. These tunes go down as smoothly as hot chocolate on a cold day, yet Lee brings an unassuming sincerity to the proceedings with his cozy, amiable voice. Comparisons to Bill Withers and James Taylor are accurate if inevitable, but when the gospel organ quivers into "Skipping Stone," it's clear Lee isn't stuck in a folk-pop rut.

Lee's approach is similar to the way Keb' Mo' treats the blues--he injects his cushy personality into an established genre, writes good if somewhat casual songs, and doesn't push the envelope too far. The final third of the album is perhaps too mellow, and a few midtempo tracks could have perked things up. But adult-contemporary fans looking for dependable Sunday morning music will welcome Supply and Demand as a quality follow-up brimming with subtle soul, style, and sophistication. --Hal Horowitz

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good follow-up, just not a better one, May 18, 2007

By	Olukayode Balogun (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I have to be honest: I enjoyed his debut album so much I was half hoping Amos Lee would 'do a Norah Jones' and give us Amos Lee Part 2, or, in other words, more of the same.

But he hasn't. He's gone for a different producer this time around, leaving Lee Alexander for Barrie Maguire and thus, for a different sound.

He's turned it up in musical terms; his voice is bolder and whereas I always felt that he could've climbed on stage and performed the majority of the songs on "Amos Lee" armed with just his guitar, here he relies more on a full band. There are more background vocals here was well, though all performed by Lee himself.

Where I think he's turned things down a notch is on the angst, melancholy, the overall raw emotion he gave me on "Amos Lee". On that CD I felt a sense of identity and intimacy with the singer that I don't feel on this one. In fact where the first CD made me feel a range of emotions, this one makes me feel nothing. (Well, there was slight alarm at the totally unexpected mention of cocaine use on "Night Train" and one significant highlight was Lizz Wright popping up on background vocals on the anti-war song "Freedom" but that was about it).

That said, upon reflection I guess I have to hand it to the man for trying to progress and expand his sound. Most of what I've grown to like about Amos Lee (his voice, his songs) are all here and his personality still comes across pretty well. There's still good music here and it all makes for very pleasant, reflective listening. I'm still a fan. I just prefer his former CD to this one.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should Be a Household Name, December 11, 2006

By	Rudy Palma "The Writing Fiend" (NJ) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Amos Lee has a the knack for lovely lyrics and colorful melodies, and continues to reveal his talent on "Supply and Demand," the follow-up to his rightfully acclaimed self-titled debut.

The singer/songwriter might seem to exude a cliched coffeehouse quality, but he never drifts into self-indulgence or monotony; a rarity among his peers. The soul that consumes his music is indicative of his hometown of Philadelphia, yet he has developed such a laid-back, churchy sound that he may as well as hail from Biloxi, Miss.

The fast-moving collection jets off with the folksy lead single "Shout Out Loud," which finds Lee waxing on his finite existence in the scope of all the people he sees on a busy street. With a winning melody and refreshingly informal lyrics, it is a fine indicator of the rest of the disc.

"Careless" provides a unique look at how friendships can dissolve when romantic intentions interrupt, as both Lee and his pal take a liking to the same woman. Similarly, "Skipping Stone" laments the fickle heart of a former flame while conceding that letting one's guard down is the only way true love can be fostered. A near-perfect role reversal occurs later with the sunny "Southern Girl."

"Freedom," which finds jazz artist Lizz Wright providing backup vocals, is another surefire highlight with its powerful words: "Don't want to blame the rich for what they got/Or point a finger at the poor for what they have not/Freedom is seldom found/By beatin' someone to the ground."

The title track is perhaps the most introspective on the album, yet it maintains a strong universal quality. Growing restless in the systematic way of life, Lee realizes after a night of jogging that he needs "a plan to understand that life ain't only supply and demand."

Romance abounds as well. "Night Train" finds a world-weary Lee finding solace in his significant other, while he proclaims in "Sweet Pea" that she is "the only reason I keep on comin' home."

"The Wind" finds him taking an empathetic look at his surroundings, contemplating the faces of the homeless and the desolate lights of the highway, while "Long Line of Pain" concludes the record on its highest and most emotional note as he describes how his family sacrificed so he could realize his dreams: "Now my momma's on her own/I try to call her and see her when I'm home/And after all that she's been through all the doctors say/There ain't nothing we can do/Her heart lives in my song/Where the melody comes and just as quickly/The melody is gone/And I'm back alone, far from home."

If Lee had put out this record in the onslaught of the singer/songwriter-friendly era of the '70s, he would be a household name by now. Though comparisons are never exact, think of him as the James Taylor of this generation. If listeners could look past the noise and clamor of mainstream radio to artists such as Lee, their musical IQs would thank them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I hear so many great voices in one., October 30, 2006

By	Frizzante - See all my reviews

What a superb album! I am trying to praise him when I say that I here a little bit of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Paul Simon and James Taylor is his clear and beautiful singing.

Could it be that we are hearing the early works of another great ballad singer?

The songs are very laid back and the unhurried. They are romantic and heartfelt, sounding somewhat bluesy, somewhat country and absolutely genuine.

I purchased this CD based on Amazon recommendations and I am very pleased with the result. I look forward to listening to his self titled album.