Amos Lee - Transmissions
Flyctory.com Pros
- Very touching, personal album
- Excellent storytelling
In 2022, I already shared an album by Amos Lee with you. The album Dreamland received a Top Pick! rating. On 9th August 2024, the US-American artist is releasing a new album. Here are my thoughts about Dreamland.

Amos Lee – About The Artist
Amos Lee is the artist name of Ryan Anthony Massaro. He was born on 22nd June 1977 in Philadelphia. He initially worked as a teacher, before he turned into a professional musician. In 2005 he released his self-titled debut album. Since then, Amos Lee released ten studio albums. Dreamland has been the one, there have been two thereafter. One is about Chet Baker songs, another one features covers of Lucinda Williams songs.
Amos Lee – Transmissions – Track by Track
The twelve song album lasts 51 minutes.

1. Built To Fall
The almost six minute Built To Fall opens the album. The song is very lyrical. Its slow style is majorly driven by the piano, even though there are other instruments like some strings creating some atmosphere. From the middle on roughly, there are also some more louder sections. This leads to a nice dramatic touch.
2. Beautiful Day
With Beautiful Day, the style of Transmissions stays rather gentle. However, the song is much more present on the melodic side and also uses a wider range of instruments. The vibes head to the Americana and country side. Nonetheless, the atmosphere stays heartwarming, even though the message of the song is not all positive.
So many days that I have spent lost in the fog
Bound and gettin on but I’m still trying to get along
She said to me she sees a sadness in my eyes
I was trying to hide it while I waited for the worst of it to fade
3. Carry You On
After two rather long and epic songs, this one is “just” 3:30 minutes. The style rather reminds of Built To Fall. The piano feels to be tootling in the background, Amos Lee puts his warm and gentle voice on top of it. Nice one.
4. Hold On Tight
The single release Hold On Tight is comparably present and energetic. It is a nice folk music track with a rocking touch.
All we have is each other
All we have in this long cold night
All we have is each other
Hold on tight
5. Madison
For I can’t live my life without you, Madison is the key phrase of the fifth song. Amos Lee is back with the piano and sings in a very high voice. This leads to a whiny and melancholic touch initially, which creates a very intimate feeling. However, there are also some very energetic and angry moments, which create an interesting dramatic plot.
6. Darkest Places
The second and also last song on Transmissions already released is Darkest Places. The sixth song of the album is coming with a nice rhythm and vibe, which makes it a very enjoyable and easy to digest folk track. The vocals come with quite some reverb, which leads to additional presence.
7. Keep On Movin’
The title Keep On Movin’ suggests that the song might continue with the rhythmic and energetic vibes of the predecessor. However, Amos Lee is slowing down the tempo of the album again. The catching and central element of the song is definitely the dreaming and touching vocal part. It turns the song to one of my favorite listens.
8. Night Light
They say that I’m over my head
But I just been holding my breath
Watching the beautiful shipwreck
And swimming away from it
The dark and lonely atmosphere of the night scene described in the eighth song is reflected in another slow and intimate song of the album. Who Do I turn to now? Now that I’m without you is the key statement of the song. You just have to feel with Amos Lee in this one.
9. Lucky Ones
You know I watched you grow, you know I did my best
But I can never take credit for the woman you’ve become
You know I held your hand, I helped you pass the test
In a past life there must have been some good I’ve done
The ninth song is a beautiful musical message a father is sending out to his daughter. Even with nothing more than our love, we are the lucky ones. You just have to be touched by this song Amos Lee wrote about his greatest gift. Lovely folk music track.
10. When You Go
Take me with you when you go – Amos Lee is doing another very personal, melancholic and sad track on Transmissions. A slight rhythm, some strumming guitars here and there and some strings popping up in the background to make your heart break even harder – the Pennsylvania artist simply knows to set the right atmosphere with just a little bit of instrumental effort.
11. Baby Pictures
The whole story of the Transmission album about breakups and farewells is having its climax on Baby Pictures. Amos Lee desperately states Don’t you go into that light – and you simply feel like grabbing a tissue. Or the desire to hug the artist and support him. If you are currently not in best mental conditions, better skip this one. It is a very emotional five minute listen.
12. Transmissions
Ain’t there something missing? The title track Transmission is closing the album. The country-alike song is at least spreading a bit of a positive outlook at the end of the album.
Get caught up in all these transmissions
Forget to put your keys in the ignition
click on the radio there ain’t no song
You turn around and she’s gone
Amos Lee – Transmissions – Spotify
Here is the album on Spotify:
Amos Lee – Transmissions – My View
Transmissions is intimate, touching, lyrical, dramatic. It is not an album made to dance and enjoy. Amos Lee is rather striking with his limited, but on point instruments and his storytelling. The songs have an impressing plot. The only reason why you might feel better after listening to this album is because it is really lovely musical craftsmanship. Most of the songs rather turn your emotions down.
Favorite Song: Lucky Ones
Pittsburgh Travel Postings
Here are all my Travel postings related to Pittsburgh:
The same procedure as every year. The day when the NHL is releasing their match schedule for the upcoming season ...
I more and more tend to have hotels in the outer boroughs of Pittsburgh when I visit the city. The ...
Arriving from New York City by the Amtrak Pennsylvanian Train in the evening, I needed a hotel with good connections ...
My second night in Pittsburgh in October 2023 was the perfect opportunity to try out something very new. I typically ...
If you solely take the ease of traveling as a criteria, I definitely took the wrong choice in regards of ...
Somehow, it is still the Heinz Field for the locals... The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Panthers share Acrisure Stadium for ...
The first evening in Pittsburgh during my March 2023 trip had a very easy schedule: land in Pittsburgh Airport (PIT), ...
I do have to admit that I typically travel to Pittsburgh to visit my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins. However, there are ...
Last week, the NHL released their schedule for the 2023-24 season. This typically means a bunch of work to me, ...
Yeah, I am a Penguins fan and that's the thing which makes me travel to Pittsburgh regularly. Nonetheless, I also ...
March 2023 featured my annual ice hockey trip supporting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Right before the first match on my list, ...
On my recent March 2023 trip to Pittsburgh watching the Pittsburgh Penguins, I wanted to close a circle and also ...
When you pass North Huntingdon Southeast of Pittsburgh on the US-30, it feels like a very typical American city at ...
What would be a better posting while being on a trip to Pittsburgh than posting about... Pittsburgh. In fact, I ...
I recently introduced you to the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. The museum is also hosting a very ...
Damn, it is already four years... And it is more than 2,750 postings since then. On 25th February 2018, I ...
On the fourth day of my Pittsburgh Penguins trip in March 2022, right before I headed on to Nashville, I ...
No matter if you like his characteristic tomato sauce or not, Senator John Heinz (yeah, the ketchup guy...) is one ...
Every year, some time in June or July, I am spending hours and hours looking into flight schedules, checking out ...
One of facts that underline that my March 2022 trip supporting the Pittsburgh Penguins had some organizational challenges is that ...
Going to Pittsburgh is always very special to me. Typically, this means that there is a home match of my ...
Music City, Baby! The final airborne transfer within the USA on this Monday. I was so excited to be back ...
A very interesting direct return flight and the second Pittsburgh Penguins match - Sunday in Pennsylvania felt to be a ...
The first day of the trip without any flight - I finally decided to have a bit more of a ...
Two years without visiting the United States are about to come to an end: in March 2022, I had planned ...
During the later phases of the Covid-19 lock-downs in Germany, I had the idea to that posting. Maybe just because ...
I already presented you my review of Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. As its key attraction is that special, I ...
The Carnegie Science Center is one of the best rated attractions in Pittsburgh. Of course, I have visited the nicely ...
In addition to the very personal new Songs of My Life category, I feel like having a bit more blogging contents on ...
Pittsburgh is my hockey home town - I try to see my Pittsburgh Penguins live at least a few times ...
Famous sons of Pittsburgh? I have to admit that my first thought is about Mario Lemieux - but that is ...
California, here I come. The first trip report of 2020 will bring me to California, where my ice hockey team, ...
The Hofbräuhaus is one of the maybe most well-known and iconic places in Munich, Germany. Even if you don't care about ...
Visiting Pittsburgh and especially my hockey team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, is always something very special to me. Even though Pittsburgh ...
After one night in Homestead, I had three additional nights at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Green Tree during my ...
On my December 2019 trip to Pittsburgh, I had to book an additional night as I had to reschedule my ...
The climate discussions during the last months again boosted discussions whether local traffic could not be for free to reduce ...
In contrast to the significantly more fancy Flagship Lounges (here is my review of the JFK one), the American Airlines ...
Even during my December 2019 stay in Pittsburgh, I frequently did get in touch with Christmas. There were not just ...
Pittsburgh is not only the city of the three rivers and countless bridges - on the southern bank of Monongahela ...
Travelling to the NHL Stadium Series match of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Philadelphia Flyers in late February 2019, I ...
The Pittsburgh Penguins versus the Philadelphia Flyers - the Keystone State Rivalry was taken to its second stage in February ...
Folk Music Posts in 2024
Here are all my Music & Media posts related to folk music published in 2024:
Time to look back to the Flyctory.com year of music, part 2. In my 30th December 2024 posting, I am ...
There are not too many bands who dare to release albums a few days before Christmas. The more I was ...
These weeks at the end of December always tend to make me a bit of nervous. Will there be sufficient ...
There are just a few bands, which use Christmas time for album releases. The O'Reillys and the Paddyhats are a ...
The German artist Alless. (with a dot at the end) already had a major social media success this year. The ...
In two years, the US-American alternative rock and indie folk band celebrate their fourteenth band anniversary. After their most recent ...
Ladies and gentlemen (and all the others of course as well), we got it: here is my first Songs of the ...
Even though Belgium is just a short drive away from my residence, I don't feature Americana music from that country ...
In 2021, I already ran into the music of Amytyst Kiah. The US-American artist had released her album Wary + Strange ...
I featured music by Andrew Bird on Flyctory.com twice already. The last review has been the album These 13, recorded ...
Hungary this weekend! After my trip to Indonesia, I am back in Hungary after such a long time of absence ...
We Mavericks is a country-folk duo from Oceania. On 18th October 2024, they are releasing their sophomore album Heart of Silver ...
The German band Suzan Köcher's Suprafon was in the news recently for a very tragic reason. While the band was ...
Recently, the songwriter Christo Graham played shows in Germany at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. On 4th October 2024, he ...
Preparing for my album coverage as of 13th September 2024, I ran into an exciting release from Ireland. Susan O'Neill ...
Willie Watson became famous as one of the founding members of Old Crow Medicine Show. However, he left the band ...
Quite a short list this time - as a couple of releases I got simply did not meet my criteria ...
Tyler Sjöström played acoustic sets between the main stage acts during the first and second day of the Sound of ...
Ray LaMontagne released his solo debut album at the age of 31. In the meantime, the folk and folk-rock musician ...
This edition of my Songs of the Week feels like a ballad edition. There are a lot of gentle and emotional song ...
What a week - I returned from my tennis coverage in Newport, now I am at the Olympic Games in ...
Ben / Benjamin Moske is a quite well-known artist in the Northern German singer-songwriter scene. His songs are influenced by ...
I ran into the album Fool's Parade by the band Color Green on a promotion platform. It is the sophomore long-play ...
28th June 2024 features a new release by Nathaniel Rateliff. The singer-songwriter is sharing a new album with the Night ...
Somehow, I can never now if the upcoming week is a "good one" or "bad one" regarding new releases. While ...
Richard Thompson already wrote music history in the 1960's. Since the 1970's, he is successful as a solo artist. On ...
From Uganda to Austin, Texas - that's the story of Jon Muq's life in five words. In some more words, ...
With their eleventh studio album, The Avett Brothers do a self-titled one. The Avett Brothers has been released on 17th May ...
Despite the World Floorball Championships coverage, I of course want to keep my Songs of the Week updated. Due to the ...
Ray Cooper's first single release, the song Common Truth with the band Amazorblades, is dated as of 1977. After appearances in ...
Snow in April! After I had some snowfall after the Swiss Floorball Superfinals (my coverage of the women's match / ...
Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam and many more - this weekend is packed with great new album releases. Nonetheless, the week ...
I featured Maggie Roggers twice so far, in the Songs of the Week editions as of 3rd June 2022 and as ...
As part of my 5th April 2024 album and EP reviews, I am glad to feature another Americana artist for ...
There have been quite a lot country and Americana releases on the Easter weekend of 2024. One of them is ...
That's all? That's roughly I thought when I finally had a rather short long list of candidates for my Songs of ...
In March 2020, I shared the album Saturn Return by The Secret Sisters with you. Now, the siblings are back ...
After I shared my Bochum Rock of Ages thoughts with you already, I am just about to have eight show streak ...
In the mid to late 2010's, The Wandering Hearts felt like one of the most promising country acts based in ...
The German band Brokof is active since 2007. They established in the German music scene and already released five studio ...
In 2021, I for the first time introduced you to John Smith. In March of that year, I shared the ...
Spacey Kacey is back! After the European fans are delighted to have the US-American artist back on their home stages ...
If you are outside the Americana music sphere, The Northern Belle might rather refer to you as a luxury train ...
Karma by the Tunisian metal band Myrath is definitely one of these releases I looked forward to so much. I had ...
I struggled a bit compiling the Songs of the Week this time. The partial flight miles for my current trip ...
Vanessa Peters is releasing music since more than two decades. After her 2021 album Modern Age, she is back in the ...
Somewhere in Oslo is one of these releases I happen to run into on promotion platforms and I just feel that ...
I always enjoy sharing some new German artists with you. This time, I listened to a debut album by the ...
Is this really the first time I am sharing my thoughts about a The Dead South release with you? I ...
I am always a bit of extra-flattered when my most frequently used promotion platform shows an album by a German ...
Tyler Ramsey is indeed really established in the music business. The earliest album release I found of him is a ...
I am always flattered when there are new, interesting German acts who are releasing country music. This week on Flyctory.com ...
If Robert Plant selects you as a support act, you just have definitely made it into the world of music ...
January 2024 has already passed and we are running into the first February 2024 edition of my weekly release radar ...
This review is about some singer-songwriter pop from Germany - more precisely: quite from the Rheinland area I grew up ...
The online magazine NPR named Lizzie No A magnetic performer and a rising star in the folk world. With Halfsies, ...
The press kit to that album has been rather impressing. Each and every track of The Carousel comes with an individual ...
I really love Italy - and I love Italian music. I already some Italian songs songs in my Songs of ...
In December 2021, I for the first time featured music by the Welsh singer-songwriter Al Lewis. I ran into his ...
The Christmas weeks are typically the ones with the lowest number of releases. Unfortunately, quite the majority of the songs ...