Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
Rabbit Fur Coat
Team Love
Grade: A-

First impressions of Jenny Lewis’ solo record were blah-blah, ho-hum, scrambled-eggs-on-white. With expectations soaring to incredible heights given the success and brilliance of Rilo Kiley, one didn’t feel part of Lewis’ stripped-down, slow, southern religious-overtoned collection of solo songs. Yet, like a choice fungus, Rabbit Fur Coat grows and grows on you; just separate yourself from Rilo Kiley songs, particularly Blake Sennett’s guitar work, and let your guard down to welcome the record. With the Watson Twins – Chandra and Leigh – providing gorgeous harmonizing, Lewis teamed up with the usual suspects of the Saddle Creek extended family – Mike Mogis, M.Ward, Mike Bloom, Ben Gibbard, etc., and of course, Conor Oberst – to record the twelve tracks on Rabbit Fur Coat. Even if the southern soulful opening of “Run Devil Run” rubs you the wrong way, Lewis does more than make it up to even loudly-proclaimed atheists thanks to the musically powerful “The Big Guns.” “Rise Up with Fists!” shares commonality with Sennet’s the Elected and soars thanks to the Watsons’ incredible harmonizing. After the slow-paced “Happy,” Lewis offers one of the best songs on Rabbit with the sweet, perfect-tempo “The Charging Sky.” Returning to slower movements “Melt Your Hearts” hints at a Mazzy Starr ambience before “You Are What You Love” pushes the tempo with some lovely melodies. The title-track is a moderate waltz that serves a nice juxtaposition to Lewis’ cover of the Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle Me With Care.” Naturally, a cover of a super group’s song requires another super group, which is created with the inclusion of Oberst, Gibbard, and Ward playing the roles. Unfortunately, the final three tracks of Rabbit Fur Coat – “Born Secular,” “It Wasn’t Me,” “Happy (Reprise)” – merely seem like an afterthought. You won’t find instant Lewis-in-Rilo satisfaction from Rabbit Fur Coat, but simply allow the record to develop on its own.