The first self-titled album by Amos Lee was a kind of archival discovery – a total nakedness, heart on the sleeve, exposed blues of past generations. This second release, Supply and Demand, is more fleshed out – more produced, instrumentally intricate, bigger. 

Not necessarily better, but bigger. Some of the songs feel like they would work as well or better without all the accoutrements of second-album-syndrome.  But even when it seems to go a bit overboard, there are plenty of tunes that use the extras well - “Sweet Pea,” with its backup ukulele, the Wurlitzer on the title track of “Supply and Demand."

In all of the songs, and really both albums, what is most attractive is the fantastic storytelling.  Lee’s sweet voice with the husky undertones tones perfectly reflects the emotive nature of all his songs. And each one draws the listener into a different place, projecting feelings that are not our own, but so familiar that they could be. 

In “Skipping Stone” the improvisatory and varied pace of the voice gives the tune a gospel quality, a prayer for help and forgiveness. The voice cries out to the organ backup, and has a holy feel – a voice crying out to an empty church.  And “Freedom” brings the topic away from personal heartache to global, imploring for peace without resorting to violence – “freedom is seldom found/ by beating someone to the ground/ and tellin’ them how/ everything is gonna be now.”

With this second album, the musician has grown into a bigger shell, expanded his boundaries.  But the same soul lives inside, and that is where the listener is really drawn – deep down inside the voice of Amos Lee.