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Review
Jenny Lewis, the Californian ex-child actor and full time member of Rilo Kiley, has used her second solo album to defy expectations. Following Under The Blacklight's retro AOR sound which brought Fleetwood Mac's classic period to mind, she now turns up on a dusty back road, dealing in the kind of gritty Americana that you'd associate more with Lucinda Williams.
Key elements on this album are country rock and gospel leavened with a dash of dirty Southern rock 'n' roll ( The Black Crowes' Chris Robinson makes an appearance). Recorded mainly live over three weeks, in places tracks (like See Fernando) are gloriously in-yer-face, while in others the harmonies (provided by a host of pals including Zooey Deschanel) are swoonigly lush. The title track's chorus will melt any heart.
Subject-wise Lewis still sticks to what she does best: confessionals with a distinctly grown-up bent (especially on the sexually charged opener, Black Sand). And despite the often-raucous, joyful feel (there are several references to abuse and cruelty. Godspeed is about a friend mired in a dangerous relationship, with Lewis' entreaties falling on deaf ears. Badman's World seems to detail a grim figure from Lewis' distant past. The songs often come across as some cool road movie, peopled by lowlife and losers. Carpetbaggers - her duet with Elvis Costello - is an upbeat tale of grifters and users. So upbeat in fact, that Costello sounds like he did back in 1978. Amazing.
Less successful is Lewis' attempts to (in her own words, do a 'Streisand' by turning three songs into a medley on The Next Messiah. All three songs are fine, but could have stood on their own legs without being shoehorned into a track nearly nine minutes in length..
Acid Tongues is a good album that really focusses on her maturing talent as a songwriter of real note. This credibility capturing performance may reach a maturer audience but one still hopes that she won't discard the obvious pop genius that lurks on previous work. --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By G. Whyman
Format:Audio CD
After being thoroughly disappointed with Rilo Kiley's last album I approached this with some trepidation. Thankfully this turned out to be a good listen - not immediate but a definite 'grower' after a few plays. Songs such as 'Pretty Bird' and 'Godspeed' are gorgeous, for example. I've even grown to quite like Elvis Costello's contribution to 'Carpetbaggers' which at first struck me as rough and too raw. Now I think I think it fits the song. All in all, worth a listen. Jenny Lewis is a talented writer and singer - one wonders why she needs Rilo any more as this is far superior. I do agree with the reviewer about the cover - it is shockingly bad considering the quality of the contents. No stars for that!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I must admit that the first album passed me by as did Rilo Kiley, so I guess I'm not really speaking as a Jenny expert here. But I really recommend this album to anyone looking for an album with a soul, what I mean by that is that when you listen to this it's hard to feel alone as it's as if Jenny's voice is in the room with you. The way she sings is so passionate, making it easy to get caught up in the stories she's telling, which are great by the way and have kept me coming back for more. To be honest I don't buy many cds anymore and only got this on a whim, but i'm really pleased with it and think its great value for money as it's full of hits and the sort of album you'll revisit in years to come. The only thing I don't like is the song with Elvis Costello on it as I don't like his voice, but if you're cool with him it's all good!
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
On first listen this is pretty good. Better than her last album or any of the Rilo Kiley albums.Very mature with lots of interesting arrangements and instrumentation. So 4 stars for the album.
However, I wouldn't usually review an album on the strength of one listen, but what I really want to do is warn prospective purchasers that this comes in a card sleeve.Something Amazon's description fails to mention. And it's not even a good card sleeve. In fact I've got cd singles with more and better packaging than this. Frankly, for nine quid this is abominable.I would only knowingly have bought this if there was no alternative.My advice to anyone wanting to buy this album is to first see if you can get it in a proper cd case.And if you're a fan of Jenny Lewis I'd certainly recommend this.
However, I wouldn't usually review an album on the strength of one listen, but what I really want to do is warn prospective purchasers that this comes in a card sleeve.Something Amazon's description fails to mention. And it's not even a good card sleeve. In fact I've got cd singles with more and better packaging than this. Frankly, for nine quid this is abominable.I would only knowingly have bought this if there was no alternative.My advice to anyone wanting to buy this album is to first see if you can get it in a proper cd case.And if you're a fan of Jenny Lewis I'd certainly recommend this.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Why this album wasn't a best seller is beyond me, it is another top-quality release by one of the most under-rated singers in the world. Highly recommended
By BOB
Format:Audio CD
Bought it purely because I heard the title track as the close-out tune on CSI Miami. Loved it so was compelled to get the album. Glad I did.
Format:Audio CD
The CD comes in a cheap paper case, a few photos inside (none of jenny, and that's a turnoff) and no lyrics. I think amazon should have at least mentioned that.
The album is great, with "the next messiah" as the highlight and "jack killed mom" as the only song i'm not too excited about.
The album is great, with "the next messiah" as the highlight and "jack killed mom" as the only song i'm not too excited about.
By A. Macfarlane
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
Though better than her previous effort (Rabbit Fur Coat) this is still not quite what I'd class a great album. She's got a real Loretta Lyne feel to some of the songs which is enjoyable. Some tracks are really good, Carpetbaggers (with Elvis Costello), See Fernando and the bombastic Jack Killed Mom for example. But there are also tracks that drift into the background a bit, and it doesn't really stand up well to repeated listenings.
She's got a good voice, some of the tracks are interesting and there is much of promise here; I quite enjoyed this. But I've heard better. I'd suggest downloading the better tracks rather than buying the albumn.
She's got a good voice, some of the tracks are interesting and there is much of promise here; I quite enjoyed this. But I've heard better. I'd suggest downloading the better tracks rather than buying the albumn.
Format:Audio CD
I really enjoyed this, have just really discovered jenny lewis but i like her voice and her music is excellent. really like next messiah but all the tracks work well. Infact this is a great album. another reviewer commented on the packaging, but surely this is much greener packaging, better than all that plastic and stuff.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as the last
"Not what the last album was"
I've waited a while to review this album, in the hope that it would be a real grower. Read more
I've waited a while to review this album, in the hope that it would be a real grower. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2008 by C. Tinker
3.0 out of 5 stars
"That difficult second album" syndrome strikes
Jenny Lewis deserves credit for trying to not just replicate "Rabbit Fur Coat" and as other reviewers have noted this is rockier in its overall outlook. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2008 by Humphrey Plugg
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Time It's Personal (4.5 Stars)
Jenny Lewis the front woman of the amazing Rilo Kiley now and then ventures off out on her own and crafts beautiful projects like her solo debut "Rabbit Fur Coat" which she,along... Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2008 by Phill
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