Philly–born singer/songwriter Amos Lee has always been known for his grass roots musical style, and loyal fans will be more than satisfied with his Americana–inspired turn on “Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song.” Opening track “Johnson Blvd” and fourth track “Chill in the Air” embody the feel of the album best, featuring Lee’s calming vocals with more southern–tinge than usual. A high point comes with the ninth track, “Loretta,” which has an electronically–inspired spark of originality coupled with a spunky lyrical narrative. The album’s glaring weakness, though, is that Lee’s lyrics don’t feel like they matter as much as they should. The melodies are well–produced and powerful enough to keep the album from ever (ever) being called bad, but ultimately the lyrical weakness keeps the album from achieving its potential as an unforgettable feat of neo–folk music.
Grade: B+
Download: “Loretta”
Sounds best when: Sitting atop a log cabin reminiscing, just like the album art would suggest.
