January 18, 2006 | Posted by David B. at 1:55 PM

One way or another

photo

Let's just get this out of the way: everyone is in love with Jenny Lewis. Even if you say you're not, even if you're all, "Rilo Kiley is totally overrated," or "I only like their first album", or, "everyone's in love with Jenny Lewis, but I'm so not" - well, too bad. You're so in love with Jenny Lewis.

This is because - well, yes, she's goddamn adorable. She's also immensely talented, and her vocals have become more and more accomplished with each Rilo Kiley record. (Whenever I hear her both yell and sing "It's so fucking beautiful!" on "Spectacular Views," tears inevitably come to my eyes. No one can express pure, genuine sincerity as heartbreakingly as Jenny Lewis.) And she, in my opinion, is a great songwriter, a sentiment I share with people such as Elvis Costello.

Okay, so now it's clear I'm really in love with Jenny Lewis. I'm alright with that.

Jenny Lewis - Melt Your Heart.

This track is from her first solo record, Rabbit Fur Coat, which comes out next Tuesday on Conor Oberst's Team Love label. I've gotta be honest here and say that it's not the best thing I've heard her sing, but I'm hoping it fits better in the context of the whole record, which is reportedly a kind of "white girl sings soul" thing. I'm sure I'm way overgeneralizing, but that's the gist of what I've heard.

The record apparently also has a cover of the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care", featuring Ben Gibbard, M. Ward and Bright Eyes as Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan, respectively. (Or is that Lefty, Otis and Lucky?) That is a ridiculous and great idea.

You can pre-order Rabbit Fur Coat from Insound.

Comments

I never liked Rilo Kiley much at all, and I still think Jenny Lewis has a tendency to veer back into the slacker lyrics territory, but Rabbit Fur Coat is (thank you, internet leak) an incredible album. "Handle With Care" is totally pointless, but other than that, it's going to be hard to top for album of the year...already!

Posted by: Norville at January 18, 2006 2:34 PM

Oh, What about her acting career? Ok, I´ve been super in love with her and Rilo Kiley since that Foxfire movie.

Posted by: Ana Rezende at January 18, 2006 3:25 PM

So who's Tom Petty then?

Posted by: Michael at January 18, 2006 4:56 PM

Erm... I'm in love with Jenny Lewis.

And yes - "Melt Your Heart" does fit better in context with the whole album (although I did prefer the live-recorded version... meh.)

Posted by: Catie at January 18, 2006 7:12 PM

she's on the cover of the new FADER

Posted by: crashmansion at January 18, 2006 11:43 PM

I love Jenny Lewis, I do. But she needs to wipe that look of her face. It would really be to her advantage. I fear that this album cover is going to look EXTREMELY dated in 3 years.

I'm sure this song, as most Rilo Kiley songs, will be much better live. "White girl sings soul" coming from her doesn't work as well on the records. Live, however, they can kick ass.

Posted by: penelope at January 19, 2006 6:03 PM

I fell in love with her when I saw the postal service live. Since then Ive had this fantasy our eyes would meet and she'd stop playing and we'd run off to North Africa.

Posted by: Adamo at January 20, 2006 9:57 PM
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