Amos Lee's 'As the Crow Flies'

Amos Lee surprised many last year when his "Mission Bell" album debuted at No. 1 and introduced his rich, warm voice to a much wider audience than the Americana faithful. On "As the Crow Flies" (Blue Note), an EP of six previously unreleased songs from his "Mission Bell" recording sessions, Lee showcases his gorgeous voice even more, complemented by the spare, effective arrangements of members of Calexico. "The Darkness" is the champ here, stunningly capturing the complicated mix of despair and hope at "the darkness before the dawn."

AMOS LEE

"As the Crow Flies"

GRADE B+

BOTTOM LINE Ringing the "Mission Bell" sessions again