Jenny Lewis - Rabbit Fur Coat on CD

Description

Previously best known as the front-woman of Rilo Kiley, Rabbit Fur Coat sees Jenny Lewis breaking out on her own to stunning effect. Teaming up with gospel singers Chandra and Leigh Watson, with a little help from producer M.Ward, and collaborations with Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and DCFC’s Ben Gibbard, this is alt. country at its finest--sweet, heartfelt and deceptively simplistic. Drawing inspiration from the record collection she shared with her mother whilst growing up, the album definitely has an old Americana feel to it, and several tracks wouldn’t be out of place on a Harry Smith anthology. Stand out tracks include the stunning gospel-tinged harmonies of "Rise Up With Fists!", the gorgeous "Melt Your Heart" (reminiscent of Mazzy Star’s "Fade Into You") and the full on toe-tapping country hoedown assault of "The Big Guns". To be fair, though, all the tracks on here earn their place, and even the somewhat strange inclusion of a cover of the Travelling Wilburys’ "Handle With Care" works somehow. A truly exceptional gem of a record. --Melanie Wilkin Product description CD -Rabbit Fur Coat -Rough Trade Records - EAN 922542 Review Jenny Lewis was a child actress before fronting BBC 6 Music's favourite band, Rilo Kiley. In Rabbit Fur Coat she goes solo with identical twin Texan gospel singers providing backing vocals. And it sounds bloody glorious; addictive even. Jenny Lewis' musical soul comes from god-fearing country; hence her music takes on those elements traditionally linked with the Deep South: slide guitars, harmonica, and three part harmonies. But curiously her heart doesn't fear god,so with her lyrics she ingeniously turns the songs on their heads. She moves from beautifully warm close mic'ed intimate waltzes like "Melt Your Heart", to a defiant, rocking, unearthing of hypocrisy, in "Rise Up With Fists". Her voice wraps up youth, wisdom and strength with vulnerability, to utter dark lyrical wisdom. The title track tells the tale of one girl's knifepoint attempted stealing of another's coat, but revenge was had by sleeping with knifepoint girl's father. Lewis speaks prettily of troublesome truths; the chiming organ and the vocal harmonies on confessional "You Are What You Love" has melted my heart all over the floor. --Lucy Davies Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window