Wes Lee’s Wood & Steel By Laurie of WritingbyKnight.com Having been given the privilege of previewing Wes Lee’s forthcoming CD, Wood & Steel, I thought I’d give the other fans a little heads-up on what to expect. For starters, the title itself leads the Wes Lee fans to expect a fair amount of the sound of steel as he maneuvers his way through the six songs on this new CD, produced in Bogalusa. Immediately, the foot tapping begins as his first song, “Sight for Sore Eyes” lures the listeners not only to follow his words and music, but invites them to explore their own experience of the old saying. The next song with its edgy lilt in his otherwise throaty sounds, Wes Lee explores the power of love as a drug in “My Gal.” The provocative play in his voice is bound to bring a smile to the listener’s face! The third track is called “Will You be Waiting.” Consistent with the upbeat sounds, his lyrics entice the listeners to get up and move to the music as they also contemplate whether or not someone will be waiting on them. The fourth track, “Gray Sky” has a bit of nostalgia to it as it provokes the old front porch guitar-picking scene from days gone by. It’s sure to please the Wes Lee fans with the tricky sounds and his talented fingers! “Take Me Back Home” is sure to connect everyone to his or her true “home” even if the Gulf isn’t it. Wes Lee invites listeners to feel the sand, fish for the mackerel, and take time to feel good inside through his reference to laughter, pretty girls, moonshine, and dancing! The final track, “Ebb & Flow” seems a logical close to the CD. This acoustic track allows listeners to appreciate Wes Lee’s talents as he eases out with the tide. This Wood & Steel feels like a return to what’s most important. Maybe it’s just me, but the entire album seems to reflect upon a feeling of comfort and knowing. Yes, I’ve listened to and sang along with Wes Lee music over the years, but this album feels more content, more secure, and more like “home.” The references to separation from what’s important throughout the first four tunes, then the explicit references to Gulf Shores in the fifth sparked a home-sickness in this listener; but the comfort of that final “Ebb & Flow” reminded me that home is really within—within the heart and memories and shared experiences. I invite you all to relish in the new, yet strangely familiar, tunes of Wes Lee’s newest release Wood & Steel.