Why You Should Listen to and Support Amos Lee's New Album + Cody Martin Expectations

This brings us some joy!

Caleb Martin was the Sixers’ biggest “holy shit” acquisition this summer, even bigger than Paul George. Most likely because the Heat offered more money and by all accounts he loved it there – but somehow it was an agent thing that led to that deal being turned down and so on and so on. Either way, he’s now a Philadelphia Processor. Here’s the 10 most reasonable expectations we should have for his first season as a Sixer.

10. Winning Attitude

This will mean more and more later in the season and especially in the playoffs but Martin is definitely a guy you want on your team for tough battles. 

9. Switchable Defender

1-5 is generous, but definitely 1-4, but he’s capable and more importantly, willing and active enough. Say hello to our 6’6 power forward. 

8. Vocal

I did some digging, checked out to a few Heat blogs (yuck) and lurked on Heat Reddit and the consensus is definitely that this is a guy who won’t be quiet if something needs to be said or done. 

7. Good Athlete

I said good, not great – but on a team that always finds itself starving for athleticism he mine as well be the next Shawn Kemp (lay off me, I’m old and been watching hoops a long ass time)

6. Willing and Capable Shooter

43% last season, 36.7% for his career. I’ll take it.

5. Very Hard Worker

Not to be clichéd because technically most players “work hard” but we’ve all seen what the opposite looks like so I’m keeping this.

4. A Big Gamer

See number 10, but can’t hammer enough how the moment has never been too big for him and honestly that’s exactly how he’s built his brand in the league.

3. An Offensive Threat

What was once a question for him coming out of college has turned into a pretty nice strength. He can score at all three levels and most importantly, can get to the cup and convert when duty calls.

2. One More Mad Max Fast Break Running Mate

Desperately needed. 

1. Vibes

He looks like he says two words all day – which is great because it means he’ll save it all for the court.Amos Lee is a good friend of mine and friend of the podcast. It would make sense that you think I am telling you to listen to his new album because of that. It would be the right thing to do. (By the way, listen to Transmissions on Spotify here, on Apple here, or get the vinyl here). But it is really the opposite.

I ended up being friends with Amos because I was a long time lover of his music before we met. When I was 26 or 27 years old I rented the third floor of a house in Bala Cynwyd from an older guy named Jay Zeitlyn. Jay was a sweetheart, whose daughter was a musician who knew Amos, and he gave me Amos’ debut EP. I loved it, especially the song “Colors,’ and became a big fan. 

I stayed a pretty big fan for years, buying concert tickets (I actually bought great seats at the Kimmel Center for me and my wife once on StubHub), listening to the albums… Definitely in the top echelon of my personal favorites. And for someone who loves music, that’s above a lot of other music. 

In 2016 I went to the Make The World Better benefit show at Union Transfer, and was at the party before the show. Amos was not announced as a performer, but would later take the stage as a special guest. I saw him backstage (with Mutlu, who I did not know then but obviously love now) and pointed him out to my dad, who insisted I go up and introduce myself. I said hello, and his response was something to the effect of “I know who you are, I trust the process.” I was pretty thrilled, and actually called Val on my way home to tell her I met him and he knew the Ricky. 

Then I found out he’s a lunatic (as we all are), and a truly good man and someone I am happy to call a friend. I learned about Tony T and the Hoagie Hour. We saw Embiid at the Super Bowl in 2018 and Amos hurt his hand. 

All that is to say, friend or not, Tony T creator or not, Amos’ music still fucking rules. It’s also nice to know how much he cares about it, and all of the love and work he puts into it. I am always thrilled to get to hear songs before they’re finished, and big batches of songs before they’re released (or never released) on albums. He’s a little bit soul, a little bit country, a little bit Americana, a little bit singer songwriter. There are all different kinds of versions of Amos the musician, but they’re all good. 

Transmissions is a great album, and I hope he’s proud of it. You should give it a listen. It’s also the first release on his own label (Hoagiemouth Records merch here). I’d say that we as the Ricky group should go to our favorite music apps and save and listen, if you’re feeling saucy buy a vinyl or a t-shirt, and spread the word. 

He’ll probably be aghast at this thing I wrote. But what’s he going to do about it really?