Okay, I'm going to be upfront with you: I picked Jenny Lewis' solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat as my favorite album of 2006. So please keep in mind that everything I have to say about the forthcoming follow-up, Acid Tongue, is filtered through that prism.Acid Tongue (to be released Sept. 23rd) is a schizophrenic album. On the first third Lewis channels a her inner dark 60's style soul singer, with results that tend to sound like second rate Adele or Amy Winehouse. Yes, on tracks like "Pretty Bird", and "Badman's World" it is indeed as bad as it sounds.
It gets even worse on the 'American Gothic' epic "The Next Messiah", a song that features three very distinct movements. The false endings are enough to drive the listener insane.
During the second section of the album, Lewis returns to the rootsy Americana that made her debut with the Watson Twins so charming.
"Acid Tongue" is a country infused ballad that features Chris Robinson and Jonathan Rice on backing vocals. The rowdy, Spanish tinged country ditty "Fernando" is a tremendous stomper. "Carpetbaggers" shows off Lewis at her best. It's a fantastically fun Grand Ol' Opry-worthy country tune.
The final part demonstrates that Acid Tongue is definitely an album in dire need of an identity as we move from bad 70's AM radio ballad ("Trying My Best To Love You") to a smoldering country Gospel frenzy ("Jack Killed Mom"), to a closer that's little more than a throwaway ("Sing a Song for Them").
Throughout the entire album the production is slicker and the music lusher than on Rabbit Fur Coat. However, the resulting recordings are far less intimate and less endearing than the album's predecessor.
The lesson we learn from Acid Tongue is that Jenny Lewis, when not accompanied by Rilo Kiley, is best served sticking with the rootsy alt. country that allows her charm to come shining through.
Best tracks: "Fernando", "Carpetbaggers"
You can hear the stream of Acid Tongue here.
Track listing for Acid Tongue:
- Black Sand
- Pretty Bird
- The Next Messiah
- Badman's World
- Acid Tongue
- Fernando
- Godspeed
- Carpetbaggers
- Trying My Best To Love You
- Jack Killed Mom
- Sing a Song for Them
5.5
1 praise/complaints:
Couldn't agree more with all your points. LOOOOVED Rabbit Fur Coat, this is way off the mark.
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