Lots of indie-rock artists have attempted incorporating soul influences into their records, but few have ever done it better than NYC’s Chris Lee. His self-titled solo debut, released in 2000, seemed to channel equal parts Al Green and Television. The end result was a scintillating and previously unthinkable combination. Now Lee, 26, has returned with the equally enigmatic pop hybrid Chris Lee Plays & Sings Torch’d Songs Chari-Vari Hymns and Oriki Blue Marches (Smells Like Records).

Expanding upon the three-piece rock of Chris Lee, Plays & Sings draws from an even wider range of influences. Lee credits different working conditions for the increased sonic breadth of his new album, “The first record we just sort of banged out in three days, because that’s all we could do. This album we were able to let it sit and cook for a little bit. We would lay down the basic tracks, and then come up with different ideas for arrangements. If the song called for a horn player or an organist, we were able to bring that in, it helped having that kind of flexibility.”

This increased attention to detail shines through on every moment of Plays & Sings, from the warm acoustic pop of “City Woman,” with its slinky upright bass, to the exuberant horn drenched opener, “Lonesome Eyes.” Luminaries from the likes of Steve Shelley (drummer for Sonic Youth) and Smokey Hormel (Beck’s guitarist) helped in rounding out the never short of impressive musical mix.

Lee’s love-struck lyrical persona immediately strikes listeners, and his soaring dynamic voice is reminiscent of Jeff Buckley in its palpable vulnerability. Listeners quick to assume Lee’s music is confessional in nature, however, are mistaken. “The songs are in the first person but they all come from sort of a fabricated place,” says Lee. “I’m happy when people feel the songs are confessional though, because being convincing is what a singer does. Any great singer, like Frank Sinatra or someone, inhabits the lyrics. To me singing is like acting, it’s about putting over something true to an audience.”

Chris Lee’s story so far reads like an indie-rock fairy tale. A struggling musician makes his way from the scene friendly college environment of North Carolina to the not so warm confines of New York City. Finding success as a rock critic writing for Spin he decides to once again pursue his musical vision, luck finds his demo tape landing in the hands of his boss at the record company where he is working part time. The boss happens to be Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth who agrees to produce his record and with the help of friends willing to lend out free studio time, Chris Lee, the album is born.

Having spent a number of years bumming around in various bands Lee is clearly excited to finally have his career rollimg, and doesn’t take it for granted. In terms of future goals, however, Lee isn’t sure what comes next.

“I want to have a pop radio hit of course,” said Lee laughingly. “I think that the important thing, with my long process before finally putting out my first record was learning to trust myself first and be comfortable and confident with whatever I came up with. It also helps to have people around you for support who are interested, on the days when I think I’m an awful charlatan. I’m really inspired by someone like Neil Young, a person who put out honest good music and didn’t make concessions, and still had it work for them. Looking back on things, I’m glad I didn’t come out with music earlier in my life. The stuff I was doing was more derivative and half-baked. At least I know that even if people hate my music it’s really my vision their hating. I would rather do that then be succesful doing some crowd-pleasing thing I couldn’t stand.”

Lee is in the midst of his first ever national tour, a solo jaunt across the United States that sees him playing some of the hippest indie-rock venues in America... and Macalester College. He clearly relishes the role of being a performer. “I love being in the studio and I could do that comfortably the rest of my life, but being able to sing for people is my favorite thing to do. It’s very immediately gratifying. Most other areas of my life I feel pretty uncomfortable, but being on stage I feel great. I consider myself a singer first really. If I wasn’t writing songs I know I would be a singer in a wedding band or something like that, I think I’m just drawn to it.”