Elly Roberts reviews
Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins: Rabbit Fur Coat
Distributed by
Rough Trade
- Cat.no: RTRADCD291
- Released: January 2006
- Rating: 10/10
If the UK wasn't obsessed with the likes of Katie Melua and Norah Jones, they'd find an equally deserving name to add to its playlist.
Jumping out of
a reasonably successful band all be it temporarily (I think), in just 12
months on the scene, Jenny Lewis is taking a big gamble. On the back of a
brilliant debut album,
More Adventurous,
Rilo Kiley's magnificent songbird
Jenny Lewis goes solo and reveals another side to her blossoming writing
skills with yet another debut album Rabbit Fur Coat.
If you're suffering
with winter blues, then this is just the tonic, though there are some
melancholic moments - tracks 1 and 4, in particular. Lewis and Kentucky's
blue-eyed soul sisters, The Watson Twins bring some much needed Californian
sunshine into our lives. Fitting into the new sub-genre of 'Americana',
Folk, Alternative Folk/Rock, this collection of 11 originals and one cover
deserves considerable attention. Rilo Kiley bust onto the scene last January:
12 months on she's creating another stir with low-key dates in the UK in
support of RFC, with bigger shows scheduled in the Spring.
For now, we're given a taste of her new venture, a delicious collection
where vocal harmony is top priority, aided by the sweet-voiced Watson Twins
- when Americans do vocal harmony they're the best in the world - remember
their tradition through The Beach Boys and the Eagles? Shades of the Carter
Family's soundscapes (O Brother Where Art Though) open-up with Run Devil
Run. Other, hinted influences (Righteous Bros) arise on Born Secular.
Instrumentally, there are splashes of banjo, acoustic guitar and pedal
steel, organ and some good old fashion stompers - e.g. Big Guns.
Encouraged by new star Connor Oberst who is Bright Eyes (who also guests on
the feisty Traveling Wilburys' Handle With Care) Lewis is determined not to
be typecast or considered a 'one hit wonder'.
For a first time effort, she's established a potential new career with
serious credibility, surely nudged along by Oberst's attention to detail. In
reality, Lewis could go either way, should she chose to do so.
'Americana' is gradually seeping into the British psyche via the likes of
Rufus Wainwright, Bright Eyes, Willy Mason and Ben Lee. She's now added to
the list.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
