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Review
When will the law of diminishing returns kick in for Jenny Lewis? Since Rilo Kiley’s 2004 breakthrough More Adventurous, we’ve had their equally inspired Under the Blacklight album, two superb and varied solo records (Rabbit Fur Coat and Acid Tongue) and now this collaboration with boyfriend Johnathan Rice (whose own folk-troubadour career seems on permanent hold). I’m Having Fun Now is probably Lewis’ most streamlined, pop-centric album, but if the title indicates something throwaway, that’s not Lewis’ style. She can effortlessly turn out cookie-cutter and bubblegum-pretty pop but always with cunning, narrative smarts and a darker underbelly to even her most purring delivery. Ask Elvis Costello, who was so inspired by working with Jenny and Johnny on Carpetbaggers that he enlisted them and their Acid Tongue band to help make 2008’s Momofuku, his most liberated album in years.
In any case, this is pop cut from the same cloth as Fleetwood Mac, and with the taut jangling style of early R.E.M. Production-wise, it’s definitely Mac-glossy, but tunes this good sometimes find their natural home. The album was recorded in Nebraska (she’s big buddies with Bright Eyes) during the worst Midwestern winter in 150 years (the front door of their guest house actually froze shut) but it radiates Californian sunshine – even when Lewis is lamenting her home state’s economic demise, as on Big Wave. But it’s Rice who kicks off the album with Scissor Runner, another gorgeous jangler that will seduce all fans of Byrds-descended jangle.
Rice also fronts a more sombre Switchblade. The intro, "it’s been one long year of Saturday nights in the city of a sleeping sun," draws you into a tale of despair as Lewis coos, "see you on the way up" while Rice sighs, "on the way down." If the couple’s love life resembles their vocals, they’re clearly having fun. They take turns, duet and dovetail so well, you can’t imagine they’ll ever break up. The just plain gorgeous New Yorker Cartoon is their harmonising high, run close by Just Like Zeus, another blast of UV rays that won’t damage your health.
I’m Having Fun Now hasn’t the range and tension of the best Lewis records (a few more twists like Rice’s unexpected Lou Reed-ish swagger on Committed would have been good). But if you’re California dreamin’ on such a winter’s day, this is a blast. Forget She & Him; Jenny and Johnny are alt-pop’s hot, fun couple.
--Martin Aston
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There is no doubt that whatever Jenny Lewis turns he hand to, she is pretty damn good at it. Her previous solo work and the albums that she released with Rilo Kiley are all excellent offerings, each different from the others. That's why I was so keen to sample her new record in collaboration with Johnathan Rice. I wanted to know what direction she was headed in and how it sat with her other releases.
So, what is the verdict? This is a good album and for large chunks of it, Lewis is at her very best. There is no doubt that she drives it and there are elements of me that feel that Rice is almost hanging onto her coat tails. I have Johnathan Rice's first solo release from around 2005 and whilst it is a reasonable album, it is nowhere near on par with the calibre of work Lewis has been putting out through the years. It strikes me that this combination kind of suits him as vehicle to get himself in the limelight. I'm sure we'll find out from the forthcoming live shows scheduled in the US....
In terms of the album itself, I was slightly surprised, although not disappointed, with the nature of the material. Lewis' solo work to date has been a lot more stripped back and rootsy than the style of songs she put out with Rilo Kiley. Her previous release, Acid Tongue, seemed to confirm the direction that she was headed in and she even stated herself in interviews that she liked the freedom she had with her solo projects compared to the band scenario. However, for my money, large parts of this album return to where she was with Rilo Kiley....Americana / alt country with some songs taking on more of a pop feel.
Does it work? To an extent, yes. If this is the direction she was headed back in, however, I feel she would have been better doing it with Rilo Kiley. Her chemistry with Blake Sennett as a writing and performing duo is evident and I don't find this chemistry as apparent with Rice. Some of the songs, whilst very good and listenable tunes, are over powered by his vocals and Lewis can sometimes seem lost in the background which is a pity as we know she has much to offer than a background vocalist, even if that wasn't the intention. In addition, the input of Jason Boesel and Pierre de Reeder is very evident, making me wonder why Rilo Kiley didn't just work on a new release.
Despite all of this, I don't want to appear overly critcal as this a very listenable record and one that I like. The tracks sung predominately by Lewis are extremely good and I get the feeling will come across very good live. Track four, Big Wave, jumps out hugely and really gathers momentum as the song charges on. It reminded me very much of Portions for Foxes the way that it builds throughout. Lewis' voice retains that captivating, dreamy edge to it on the excellent Straight Edge of the Blade which could easily appear on Rilo Kiley's debut album, Take Offs and Landings. Other highlights include Just Like Zeus in which Lewis really takes charge of the vocal exchanges, and Committed which is a stonking end to the record and could close any live show.
Overall, another great offering from Jenny Lewis, perhaps just a shame that it wasn't with Rilo Kiley which could have moved it up another notch or two.
So, what is the verdict? This is a good album and for large chunks of it, Lewis is at her very best. There is no doubt that she drives it and there are elements of me that feel that Rice is almost hanging onto her coat tails. I have Johnathan Rice's first solo release from around 2005 and whilst it is a reasonable album, it is nowhere near on par with the calibre of work Lewis has been putting out through the years. It strikes me that this combination kind of suits him as vehicle to get himself in the limelight. I'm sure we'll find out from the forthcoming live shows scheduled in the US....
In terms of the album itself, I was slightly surprised, although not disappointed, with the nature of the material. Lewis' solo work to date has been a lot more stripped back and rootsy than the style of songs she put out with Rilo Kiley. Her previous release, Acid Tongue, seemed to confirm the direction that she was headed in and she even stated herself in interviews that she liked the freedom she had with her solo projects compared to the band scenario. However, for my money, large parts of this album return to where she was with Rilo Kiley....Americana / alt country with some songs taking on more of a pop feel.
Does it work? To an extent, yes. If this is the direction she was headed back in, however, I feel she would have been better doing it with Rilo Kiley. Her chemistry with Blake Sennett as a writing and performing duo is evident and I don't find this chemistry as apparent with Rice. Some of the songs, whilst very good and listenable tunes, are over powered by his vocals and Lewis can sometimes seem lost in the background which is a pity as we know she has much to offer than a background vocalist, even if that wasn't the intention. In addition, the input of Jason Boesel and Pierre de Reeder is very evident, making me wonder why Rilo Kiley didn't just work on a new release.
Despite all of this, I don't want to appear overly critcal as this a very listenable record and one that I like. The tracks sung predominately by Lewis are extremely good and I get the feeling will come across very good live. Track four, Big Wave, jumps out hugely and really gathers momentum as the song charges on. It reminded me very much of Portions for Foxes the way that it builds throughout. Lewis' voice retains that captivating, dreamy edge to it on the excellent Straight Edge of the Blade which could easily appear on Rilo Kiley's debut album, Take Offs and Landings. Other highlights include Just Like Zeus in which Lewis really takes charge of the vocal exchanges, and Committed which is a stonking end to the record and could close any live show.
Overall, another great offering from Jenny Lewis, perhaps just a shame that it wasn't with Rilo Kiley which could have moved it up another notch or two.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
Jenny Lewis has always worked well whilst in collaboration mode. `I'm Having Fun Now' is no exception to this general rule, with Lewis effectively working with boyfriend and touring partner Johnathan Rice on this brilliant record.
Scissor Runner kicks things off, a bright and breezy opener which ends kicking and screaming. Once again, Lewis and Rice manage to write some exceptional lyrics, with Switchblade and Big Wave really standing out here, the latter reflecting on the recessions affect in California. Elsewhere on the album, While Men Are Dreaming could easily have come out of a Execution Of All Things session, whilst Slavedriver deals with S&M and Straight Edge of the Blade cool-ly tackles sexuality. Committed, a favourite live opener, ends the album with quirky and quick-fire lyrics, ending an eleven track storm of an album in style.
Overall, this album stands remarkably well with Jenny Lewis' other records, mainly because it is something completely different to all her other work. As the duo stated before the release of the album, this record was never meant to be a Jenny Lewis or a Johnathan Rice record, but a Jenny and Johnny record. This is certainly the case, and `I'm Having Fun Now' is both an original and frankly, brilliant album and certainly some of the best music to come out of California in recent years.
Jenny and Johnny are currently embarking on an unusually large UK tour, so go and see them. The new songs come off very well live (particularly Slavedriver and Big Wave) and their sets include both Johnathan Rice songs (End of the Affair) and Lewis classics (Carpetbaggers). Go and see them and have some fun!
Scissor Runner kicks things off, a bright and breezy opener which ends kicking and screaming. Once again, Lewis and Rice manage to write some exceptional lyrics, with Switchblade and Big Wave really standing out here, the latter reflecting on the recessions affect in California. Elsewhere on the album, While Men Are Dreaming could easily have come out of a Execution Of All Things session, whilst Slavedriver deals with S&M and Straight Edge of the Blade cool-ly tackles sexuality. Committed, a favourite live opener, ends the album with quirky and quick-fire lyrics, ending an eleven track storm of an album in style.
Overall, this album stands remarkably well with Jenny Lewis' other records, mainly because it is something completely different to all her other work. As the duo stated before the release of the album, this record was never meant to be a Jenny Lewis or a Johnathan Rice record, but a Jenny and Johnny record. This is certainly the case, and `I'm Having Fun Now' is both an original and frankly, brilliant album and certainly some of the best music to come out of California in recent years.
Jenny and Johnny are currently embarking on an unusually large UK tour, so go and see them. The new songs come off very well live (particularly Slavedriver and Big Wave) and their sets include both Johnathan Rice songs (End of the Affair) and Lewis classics (Carpetbaggers). Go and see them and have some fun!
Format:Audio CD
A really cool album. First saw them on tv at Glasto this year - they did Animal in the studio - wow, what an amazing sound. They harmonize brilliantly with each other especially on this track. The others vary in mood but i assure you they are well worth a listen. Buy it an give em a chance.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
<3
I bought this cd about two months ago now, and I still can't stop playing it. Jenny and Johnny's voices compliment each other well, and the songs are all well written. Read more
Published 7 months ago by trina p
Some good tracks worth a listen.
Although not all the songs are that inspiring the album is a pleasant listen . The outstanding track is Animal which is excellent and should have been a hit.
Published 9 months ago by Dave T.
Indie Pop with a Lewis Inflected Accent...
There is no doubt that Jenny Lewis has some serious talent. Her angelic twang breathes life into the most prosaic of songs which is a good job here. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Stagger Lee
Quality offering
This 36-minute long effort will please anyone that likes the kind of US music you find between Fleetwood Mac (mk II) and Bill Callahan. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Stan FREDO
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