Amos Lee

Released in 2004, this self-titled EP served as the world's introduction to Amos Lee, a Philadelphia-born schoolteacher turned songwriter. Released via Blue Note Records, the album immediately signaled a unique direction for the label, blending their storied jazz and soul heritage with the burgeoning indie-folk movement. The production is famously sparse, helmed by Norah Jones's bassist Lee Alexander, which helped establish Lee's signature 'folk-soul' sound. The tracklist includes several songs that would become staples of his career, most notably 'Arms of a Woman' and 'Colours'. Critically, the EP was praised for its authenticity and Lee's 'honey-and-whiskey' vocal tone, which drew frequent comparisons to Bill Withers and James Taylor. It remains a foundational text in the 2000s singer-songwriter revival, prized for its rejection of over-production in favor of raw, intimate performance.