Emma Jean even stands out from its excellent predecessors in performance, arrangement, production, and inspiration.
Throughout Emma Jean, Fields struts, croons, shouts and turns on a low, tuneful vulnerability, matched at each turn by his terrific band.
The same parts are in place;sharply often intricately arranged horn parts, gospel call and response female backing vocals, a band that supports and never overplays and of course Fields’ tough, tender and pleading voice.
Even though you know just what you should be getting from an album like this, Lee Fields & the Expressions play like the stakes have never been higher: they lay it all out there, put it on the line, and make damn well sure you feel it.
Exactly what 2014 needed, an honest, relatable, charismatic soul album by a long-time legend. Lee Fields delivers his career-best with his loving, sonic embrace of an album with a perfectly-mixed brass and string section that allow for absolute wonderment.