Supply and Demand

Amos Lee has the same easy-going gravel voice and laid back style of Bob Dylan in his prime — and many are already punting him as a worthy successor to the old master himself.

His music is an easy-going blend of soul, folk and blues; the lyrics are on-the-road, real life stuff: touching, deeply emotional, yet never soppy.

While he wields the acoustic guitar on some tracks, his backing band play a variety of instruments such as ukulele, organ, pedal steel, bass, piano, drums and guitar. But the group are not intrusive; they have a pleasantly loose style which leaves Lee’s voice free to roam and dominate.

It helps that his songs, all self-penned, provide extremely pleasant listening and feature a refreshing change from the drivel that passes for lyrics these days.

All 11 tracks are fresh, vital and uniquely moulded in Lee’s style. They show the class and style of the man who taught for a couple of years after scoring a degree in English from the University of South Carolina.

But although he’s already released a couple of moderately successful albums, the singer-songwriter has never really hit the big time. ‘Supply and Demand’ is his first album with the legendary jazz label Blue Note and might just be the move that ignites his rise to fame — for if ever a rising young star deserved it, it’s Lee.

He’s opened shows for such legends as Dylan, BB King, and Mose Allison in the ‘States and completed a European tour with the similarly styled Norah Jones. But with a bit of luck he might soon be scouting for someone to open an Amos Lee solo concert.

Based on the strength of ‘Supply and Demand’, one of the most exciting albums in years, the man is a genuine artist — a true entertainer who deserves a wide international audience.