Entertainment For Lively Minds
How a Word CD almost spoiled it for me...
I have Word to thank for having heard of Jenny Lewis (and Rilo Kiley too, of course) in the first place. However, I almost wrote off her first solo album on the strength of the selection from it that was featured on Now Hear This a year or two ago: a dull and pointless version of the Travelling Wilburys' Handle With Care. I moved swiftly on, and sort of forgot about her. Recently, through Spotify, I reacqainted myself with that album, Rabbit Fur Coat, and found that it's packed to the gunwales with terrific songs, and that Handle With Care is not only rubbish, but unrepresentative too. It made me wonder why that track was chosen.
Anyway, Rabbit Fur Coat has been on constant play in the last few days, and I thought I'd give it a plug here in case anyone is vaguely interested. The first song, Big Guns, is bloody perfect - check out those beautiful chord changes. Here it is:
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Couldn't agree more
She is fantastic and that album is a modern classic.
It took me a while but I am equally bewitched by her second album 'Acid Tongue'. Jude Rodgers gave it a bit of a...errr....tongue lashing in these pages but she's just plain wrong. Give it time and it reveals more and more to you. I love it when that happens.
I think I'm in love with her a bit
Word made me aware through
Word made me aware through their rave reviews of Rilo Kiley a few years ago (Portions for Foxes is a great tune, especially when she growls "Come 'ere!"). Also agree about Rabbit Fur Coat apart from the comment about the Wilbury's cover - I really like it!
Carpetbaggers (from Acid Tongue) was probably the finest tune of 2008 for me.
Is Not
'More Adventurous' though truly her/their finest thing? I have heard nice things by them/her before and after, but none really compare for me.
It's not in any of those best of the 'Noughties' lists either.
Obviously.
I'm quite partial
to the FM sheen/pop of 'Under the Blacklight', cracking lp.
can't abide that album. Big
can't abide that album.
Big fan of the other Rilo stuff ever since a promo of Execution landed on my mat. Like Jenny Lewis' solo albums - and The Elected too. But UTB leaves me cold.
Not just me then
Absolutely the same. Love More Adventurous, love Jenny Lewis' solo albums, but can't get on with UTB at all.
Thirded
Partly the songs, partly the sound of the thing : I didn't get on at all well with it, but love pretty much everything else she's done.
I don't know about that
It's got some great songs and some less brilliant ones.
Close Call, Silver Lining, 15 and the song under the Blacklight are excellent.
Dreamworld and Money Maker are good.
The rest I can leave...
Thanks for all the encouragement folks!
Now I have to do is actually get round to listening on Spotify...
Actually
I don't have any Rilo Kiley, largely cos they're not on emusic (so I can't get them cheaply) and not on Spotify (so I can't listen properly) - at least they weren't last time I looked. Which would be my best bet to start off with?
Um, Azeem old bean
RK are on Spotify. Here's a link to The Execution of All Things which will lead you to the other stuff.
http://open.spotify.com/album/5RI98o8fiKC3KGAJNPULC1
My fave bit of Jenny L is "Rise Up With Fists" from Rabbit Fur Coat
http://open.spotify.com/album/2tKrfZTaioQTXtxI8DxtWg
Erm
Doh! Could've sworn I'd looked. Oh well, they're not on emusic - although both of Jenny Lewis's albums are there, so snap 'em up folks.
Check out "More Adventurous"
My favourite of the Rilo Kiley albums. Really splendid.
With arms outstretched...
My first exposure to the lovely Jenny was way back in Word 21, still in my opinion the best Word CD. With Arms Outstretched is a fabulous song
Word 21 includes my fave Word CD track to date, Goccia by Cristina Dona feat Robert Wyatt. I've no idea what she's singing about, but it sounds wonderful
Wow, that second album ain't shabby neither
I've been rediscovering Acid Tongue, and I'm hugely impressed. Great songs throughout, though Carpetbaggers is marred by Elvis Costello's horrible, hammy vocal. Sing A Song For Them is just majestic. Here it is:
I totally agree with you
...about Carpetbaggers and Elvis Costello - his bit is just horrible. Actually, when some bloke starts wittering on in 'Jack Killed Mom' about men pushing rocks up stony mountains.
When you've got Jenny Lewis singing on your records you don't want anyone taking up space unless it's the Watson Twins
Thanks to Canal+
I only discovered the godlike Jenny a couple of months ago. What turned out to be "Godspeed" seemed to be played every time I browsed the EPG for my local TV satellite service.
At the point where I was starting to hum the bloody thing constantly, I investigated on the net, bought the album, loved it and promptly downloaded her other solo and RK stuff.
She's phenomenal. I normally can't be bothered with Female-Singer-Songwriter-at-Piano but JL is different class. Great tunes and wicked (in every sense) lyrics plus I lovehow her voice cracks occasionally.
And that naughty glint in her eye...I say, ding dong!
Agreed
it's an excellent album.
Sometimes these things work the other way - have much enjoyed McAlmont and Nyman's track 'Secrets, Accusations and Charges' on a recent Word cd, but am not so enamoured of the rest of the album 'The Glare' (available on Spotify).
Another Word CD star
Piney Gir. Am listening to The Yearling, a brilliant record. Anyone who likes Jenny L must like it I reckon.
But I've been wrong before.
Quite often...
Postscript
I've just listened to The Execution Of All Things, and I'm sad to say I was disappointed. The songs didn't grab me on the whole, apart from Hail To Whatever You Found In The Sunlight; the band didn't either (the other singer is very dull). I dunno. Maybe I just like Jenny L and not Rilo Kiley and that's the way it is. Might as well give Under The Blacklight a go I suppose.
On a more positive note, I followed up the piece in the last issue about new solo female performers, and have found one keeper so far, Lisa O Piu. When This Was The Future is on emusic and is very lovely.
Lisa o Piu
was a serendipitous discovery on Spotify for me - and When This Was the Future amongst my favourite albums of last year.
It also led to the doscovery of other wholly wonderful girls from a North country
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/lets-hear-it-swedish-girls