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Feb 01, 2016 Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins By Matthew Berlyant

Back in early 2006, Jenny Lewis’ solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat was an absolute revelation and one of the finest albums of that year. On this tenth anniversary reissue, it still holds up marvelously. Originally released on Conor Oberst’s Team Love label, the album’s spiritual model was Laura Nyro’s 1971 all-covers album Gonna Take a Miracle. In much the same way that Nyro used LaBelle as background singers, Lewis does the same thing with The Watson Twins here, though the end result is wholly singular and unlike its inspiration. The material is top notch with highlights including the a cappella gospel track (“Run Devil Run”) along with the pensive, moving title track, the single “Rise Up With Fists,” and “Melt Your Heart.” Despite this being Lewis’ record through and through, the one cover here is most telling of this album’s collaborative spirit. It’s a cover of The Traveling Wilburys hit “Handle With Care” with Lewis handling Tom Petty’s part, Ben Gibbard playing Roy Orbison, and Oberst fittingly playing the Bob Dylan role. They have all become even bigger stars since then, but if that isn’t a snapshot of mid ‘00s indie rock, I don’t know what is. (www.jennylewis.com)

Author rating: 9/10