Las Vegas-born Jenny Lewis first crossed my radar as the impetus behind Elvis Costello & The Imposters' Momofuku. That little effort resulted from an invitation contribute vocals to Jenny Lewis sessions which included Imposters bassist Davey Faragher that, in turn led to a burst of writing activity, a call to drummer Pete Thomas and keyboardist Steve Nieve and a product that stands with the best of Costello’s considerable catalogue.
Despite that, I haven't dug too far into the Lewis discography. That's a consequence of the oft-bemoaned lack of people to talk music with and the fact that the sources through which I unearth new music have been remarkably light on for Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley content.
Based on the Jenny & Johnny album, cut with boyfriend/partner/whatever Johnathon Wilson, we'll get there eventually, and the discography page is there as much in anticipation as it is as an outcome of a need for a page to sit on top of the I'm Having Fun Now review.
A s far as Lewis herself is concerned, she's as significant for the acting as she is for the music, with a career that goes back to an appearance as one of Lucille Ball's grandchildren in the sitcom Life With Lucy in 1986. She would have been ten at the time.
The music kicked in when she joined friends Pierre De Reeder, Dave Rock and then-boyfriend Blake Sennett formed the band Rilo Kiley in 1998, starting in Americana country (or a nearby postcode, from what I can gather) and moving towards a more downbeat indie rock sound.
The solo career dates back to an invitation from Conor Oberst to cut a solo album in 2004. Rabbit Fur Coat had a number of significant contributions from Oberst, M. Ward, Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and backing from The Watson Twins, who were gone by the time Acid Tongue appeared. I guess if you're getting session contributions from Mr Costello and assorted Imposters you don't need to worry about lesser lights.
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