Reviews
Jenny Lewis
Rabbit Fur Coat
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Add to del.ico.us.Review Date: 2006-02-26
Rilo Kiley make just the kind of indie-rock that I like -- poppy and quirky, with great vocals. Now Jenny Lewis, the Rilo Kiley member responsible for those vocals, has struck out on her own with her first solo effort. Rabbit Fur Coat, recorded with the Watson Twins and a few high-profile guests (Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie), is a countrified debut that sounds like Be Good Tanyas or the first two of Neko Case's solo albums, while also showing hints of influences like gospel, classic rock, and plain old indie-pop.
Lewis' voice goes surprisingly well with this material, and it's nice to hear it with songs that are stripped down a bit, along the lines of "I Never" by her band. Her harmonies with the Watson Twins are really nice, particularly on album-opening "Run Devil Run" and "Rise Up With Fists." The vocals is nice and clear, which works beautifully with the acoustic guitars and simple arrangements of these songs. These aren't the kind of songs that need quirky, affected singing accompanying them.
"Rise Up With Fists" is an early standout track on the album, with the aforementioned harmonies and its high singalong potential. "The Charging Sky" sounds the most like a Rilo Kiley song; the country influences aren't as much in the forefront as they are in tracks like "Big Guns," and the lyrics follow Lewis' recognizable cadence (see songs like "Love and War" and "It's A Hit").
"Handle With Care" is a Travelling Wilburys cover featuring Oberst and Gibbons; it's probably one of the more controversial tracks on the album, being a cover of a popular song, but I think it's a highlight. The cover doesn't break new ground -- the song is recognizable right from the distinctive opening guitar, and the harmonica remains intact. But Lewis, Oberst and Gibbons' voices work well together, and the weary note the former strikes works.
For the most part, Rabbit Fur Coat manages to stay on the right side of the line between homage and kitsch in its appropriation of the hallmarks of the country genre. "Happy," with its mournfully-sung chorus ("I could be happy/happy/oh so happy"), recalls the ironic nature of classic country songs and doesn't go for the easy choice of painting the entire song in misery. Lewis has a voice that is just as good when expressing joy as it is when it's expressing sorrow, so it's nice to see her using her range. Also, there is enough variation in the songs to keep this LP from sounding like a project instead of an album; not every song strikes an obvious alt-country note; songs like "You Are What You Love" are a nice change of pace without being jarring.
Not all of the songs hit the high notes of "Handle With Care." The title track doesn't quite get the storytelling across as I think it's intended to, and it feels a bit like a song that never quite gets to where it's heading to. The midi-sounding drums in "Born Secular" sound out-of-place on an album that does so much with acoustic instrumentals, and while the Watson Twins are a nice addition to this song, the overall effect is a bit precious. This means that the album doesn't quite end as well as it began, though "It Wasn't Me" is a lovely way to wind things down. But overall this is a strong debut that see Lewis taking the well-known signposts of a well-love musical style and successfully, for the most part, putting her own stamp on them.
Songs To Download: "Handle With Care," "Happy," "Rise Up With Fists," "The Charging Sky"
Score: 8.1
It's not a perfect album, but it's a very well-done solo debut. Rabbit Fur Coat proves that Lewis has more than just one indie-rock trick up her sleeve.
- Terri