The result is Lee's richest and most fully formed album
to date. Mission Bell,
which was produced by Joey Burns of the acclaimed band Calexico, displays both range and cohesion, an array of emotions unified by Lee's eclectic taste and distinctive vocals. With a remarkable set of guests—including Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), James Gadson, Priscilla Ahn, and Pieta Brown— and the musical backing of Calexico, the album marks the arrival of Amos Lee as a mature artist who continues to explore his musical and thematic interests.
Songs like "Windows are Rolled Down" and "Flower" capture moments that are achingly personal, while "Stay" and "Out of the Cold" speak to Lee's own confrontations
with
mortality, growing out of experiences with his own fans and performing at hospitals as part of the Musicians On Call program.
"There's a real spirituality and searching element to a lot of these songs," says Lee, who has evolved into one of the most important and prolific songwriters of our time, a point that's driven home by the presence of legends such as Williams and Nelson, who were eager to interpret Lee's songs.
"Great songwriters don't come around that often," states Nelson. "Amos is an exceptional artist, a true
story teller, unique to his
generation." Williams was similarly impressed: "Amos Lee knows how to use his voice to tell a story with a hint of mystery as he does so beautifully in the compelling ‘Clear Blue Eyes.'"
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