The Magic and Musicianship of Jenny Lewis

By Landin E. King

October 7, 2008

The marvelous Jenny Lewis once again harnesses the magic of her talents with the release of her first completely solo album, Acid Tongue. Two years after the release of Rabbit Fur Coat, her collaboration with the Watson Twins, Lewis delivers this new gem. Showcasing roots in the country music style Lewis fell in love with so long ago, Acid Tongue is a solid delivery of musicianship and creativity.

Straying from the folk-jam sound of Rabbit Fur Coat, Lewis takes an opportunity to throw in some harder hitting rock songs on her new release. Powerful bass lines, quick pick lead guitar progressions, piano, and plenty of steel guitars leave listeners little choice but to get up and dance to tracks like Fernando and The Next Messiah. With Lewis always a collaborator, Carpetbaggers offers a strange accompaniment with Elvis Costello.

Lewis proves her versatile ability more in this album than most of her previous releases. Still yet, the captivating ability of Lewis to write and perform chill-bump harvesting ballads will forever set her apart in the music world.

The album’s title track, “Acid Tongue,” is a gorgeous track concerning self-examination and contentment with the simplest parts of life. Easily one of the most outstanding tracks on the album, “Acid Tongue” features only Lewis playing an acoustic guitar and singing accompanied with backup vocals from the rest of her band.

Songs “Godspeed,” “Pretty Bird,” and “Sing a Song” deliver Lewis’s angelic voice with impeccable precision as she brings one heart warming lyric after another.

Lewis pushes further and further with each new project she undertakes. Acid Tongue is no different. A great listen from start to finish, Jenny Lewis has succeeded again in knocking this listener off his feet.