Another year, another Jenny Lewis album. That wasn't an insult; every recording she's done has been good if not great, and between her solo work and Rilo Kiley it adds up to 6 albums in 7 years. She's always reaching for something new by stealing something old: last year's Under The Blacklight was a polished pop-rock record that tried to establish Rilo Kiley as the new Fleetwood Mac. It didn't work and critics were divided on it, probably because the first half of the album was a masterpiece and the second half was horrible. Hard working she is, consistent she isn't.
On Acid Tongue, Jenny mines early 70s Elton John, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell instead, and the results are the most consistent she's ever done. This album sounds loose, fun, and personal whereas other albums by here have felt overstuffed and overproduced. "Black Sand" and "Pretty Bird" start the album with two beautiful and occasionally haunting ballads, but then she really loosens up with a ten minute rock jam called "The Next Messiah". Apparently she remembered that she is a rock singer and not a pop-soul singer when recording this one.
Although both her range and songwriting have improved, she still isn't a great singer. She doesn't have Fiona Apple's bitterness or Patti Griffin's soulfulness, and her voice really starts to fall apart on the otherwise beautiful "Trying My Best To Love You". Regardless, every song on the record flows into the next, and the dynamics make it a fun listen. The only complete dud on the album is "Carpetbaggers" with Elvis Costello who, despite being one of my all-time favorite singers, is becoming an irritating guest singer. I'm surprised he hasn't been on rap records yet.
There are two highlights: the soulful title track with it's spare instrumentation and cautionary tales of LA life, and the hilarious blues-stomp "Jack Killed Mom". The good things about this album far outweigh the bad, and this album varies far enough from her other records to make you glad that she's still trying to find her voice. I think she might have found it, but her masterpiece is still someday coming.
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