Amos Lee’s latest, Mission Bell, is a satisfying road trip of an album, mixing soul, gospel, and blues. In “El Camino,” the song that bookends the album, lyrics like “Gonna wash my soul / Gonna get it clean” mirror the human desire for redemption. And in “Cup of Sorrow” he continues this theme, singing, “I want to sit at your table of wisdom / So that not one crumb shall go to waste / For if we keep down this path to destruction / Well, our children will suffer for our haste.” As an added bonus, Lee brings along several heavy-hitting guests for the ride, like Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, and Iron and Wine’s Sam Beam. Mission Bell is a great traveling companion for your summer journeys. (Blue Note)
