SAM AMIDON - I See The Sign

We somehow forgot to feature this album on our website when it was released way back in April, which is strange since Sam Amidon's last album All Is Well made our year end list back in 2008, and I See The Sign is more than a worthy follow-up. Perhaps it was for the best, though, because on first listen, I See The Sign sounded a lot like All Is Well—not a problem, but also not exactly revelatory. After all, both albums follow similar paths, with Amidon taking the words and melodies from old public-domain folk songs, dusting them off and making them sound new again.

It's only after spending a few months with it that its unique characteristics have emerged. Where the beauty of his last album was its sense of privacy and sparse arrangements, this time around there is a lot more going on in each of the album's 11 tracks. Chalk this up to appearances from percussionist Shahzad Ismaily, avant-garde composer Nico Muhly, and songstress Beth Orton, whose backing vocals on "Relief" (actually a cover of an obscure R. Kelly song) help make it an album highlight. Both subtle and majestic, I See The Sign will satisfy his fans, while also providing a perfect point-of-entry for those just discovering this talented young musician. I see the sign, and it says "Buy this album!"