Jenny and Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now (Warner)
3/5
By: Richard Brant
With Rilo Kiley, the Watson Twins and the numerous other collaborators featured in her solo work all squeezed in to the previous decade, it seems only right that Jenny Lewis should kick off the next one with yet another side project collaboration. This time it’s with American folk troubadour Jonathon Rice, who not only helped produce Lewis’ second album Acid Tongue, but a man who’s also her current boyfriend.
“Oh god, won’t this be a cheesy Lewis/Rice love in?” I hear you groan. Well actually no. Yes, there is reference to love, but only amidst more prevalent themes of jealousy, depression, monetary crises, mythology, and a biblical concern that continually weaves in and out. The vocals interact within songs, but never as a Sonny and Cher like charade - in fact, if this is the way they actually talk to each other, I give their relationship ‘til next week.
There’s quite a darkened sentiment within the songs that contrasts the carefree uplifting blast that Jenny and Johnny’s tunes provide. ‘Scissor Runner’ starts off in a pop mod rock type riff that cycles all the way through as Rice’s vocals lazily join in talking of love for a girl that clearly isn’t as enamoured with him. This is what works quite well with the pair, as the addition of Lewis’ beautifully pure vocals reveals a story aside from that of the main narrator Rice. The same can be seen in the jealousy ridden country style of ‘Pet Snakes’ but inversed as Lewis takes the lead.
Money is thematically tied in as a problematic root of issues expressly in tracks such as ‘Switchblade’ where Jenny and Jonny’s vocals turn to a complimentary role. Blended over acoustic guitar and glistening synthetic echoes lyrics such as ‘it was poverty that kept you sweet and dreams that kept you young” tell the story of someone lost in their fortunes. ‘Big Wave’s’ bouncing pop core acts as a mask to the highlighted societal pitfalls of modern living with debt, prescription drugs, and adulterous behaviour all coming back to haunt one.
The dreamy lullaby of confusion that is ‘While Men Are Sleeping’ acts as an eerie intermission. Complimented by the obtuse lyrics adjoined, the organ chords and strange reverbs aid and abet, as Lewis’ voice drifts over the top.
There are numerous religious connotations slipped in to Jenny and Johnny songs throughout this curious album, but none more prominently than in ‘Animal,’ the most staid sounding of the respective song suggesting that “we must modernise Jerusalem, detonate the temples let them fight over the dust,” and taking a look at at the nature of belief and its consequences relative to co existence between “believers” and “non believers.” ‘Just Like Zeus’ takes a more mocking direct route in its surf guitar pop that talks of a “being” seeing worshipers as lunatics, behaving like a bit of a “bum” and stating “don’t call me I’ll call you.”
It’s around ‘New Yorker Cartoon’ and ‘Straight Edge of The Blade’ that one gets a bit lyrically lost within yet more ambiguous references. Of course listener interpretation is up for grabs, but unlike ‘While Men Are Sleeping’ the tracks themselves don’t bring anything extra to somehow comfort “this scribes” apparent ignorance for “lack of head nor tale.” The former is a classic and well put together country tune and the latter has a certain easy shoe gaze that softly flows over, but it in no way pushing the boundaries.
‘Slave Driver’ wins back some of the lost ground with its boozy strut and submissive lyrics as Rice takes main focal point accompanied by Lewis’ sweet vocals. This short dram leads in to the final blast of country folk rock that is ‘Committed’ which has a few American societal swipes including one at the lack of patience and understanding of how difficult a job the “new administration” has.
There are a few glimpses of brilliance in this album, the duel mocking almost sarcastic retorts in some tracks being one, and Lewis’ spectacular voice being another harmonising with Fleetwood Mac like ease. The tracks are simple, and full of pop hooks, lyrically clever and asides from some ambiguities, for the most part it’s great fun to listen to. Take in to account that this album is called I’m Having Fun Now, I’d say that musically they’re on the money.
Jenny And Johnny - 'Big Wave' | I'm Having Fun Now by www.yinmagazine.com
Artists in this article: Jenny And Johnny
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