Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins
Rabbit Fur Coats
Label: Team Love Records

Jenny Lewis, the L.A. singer/songwriter from Rilo Kiley — the hit L.A. quartet — has released her first solo effort with a little help from some southern friends and producer Mike Mogis.

With country harmonies modelled on `white soul classics,’ Rabbit Fur Coats is patterned after a singer/songwriting marketing strategy in the 70s that worked — founded on three principals:
–let the singer sing and don’t overproduce
–let the songwriting complement the singer
–don’t overpromise anything but give the listener more than they expect.

I can appreciate the songwriting, but the real deal here is Jenny Lewis’ amazing voice partnered with the Watson Twins, a pair of harmonizing sisters from Kentucky.

One fun track is a cover of the Traveling Wilburys’ classic, “Handle With Care,” with guests including Ben Gibbard, M.Ward AND… what “friend of Saddle Creek album” wouldn’t be complete without an appearance by Conor Oberst? And while most of the songs are fairly accessible and downright familiar, the album is worth buying for the title track, a rags-to-riches story set to a simple guitar riff that sits with you long after the song ends.

If you dig it, her tour schedule is huge.