[rating=4.00]
At least this group’s moniker is more descriptive than She & Him. In this case, Jenny is Jenny Lewis, the former Rilo Kiley singer, and Johnny is Johnathan Rice, the singer-songwriter who previously worked with girlfriend Lewis on Acid Tongue, her last solo effort.
When reviewing I’m Having Fun Now, it’s important to state what it is not. It is not another Jenny Lewis solo album with Johnathan Rice on backing vocals and guitar. It does not continue where Lewis left off on Acid Tongue, her finest work and an album that was one of the greatest of 2008. And unlike that recording, Lewis’s vocals are not the focus here, which is a shame, because she’s one of the best singers in the business. It doesn’t have the same level of experimentation and eclecticism as Acid Tongue, so grandiose anthems like “The Next Messiah” or quirky masterpieces like “Jack Killed Mom” won’t be found here.
Now let’s look at what I’m Having Fun Now is. The blues and jazz leanings heard in Acid Tongue are replaced with sunny indie rock and a sense of fun. This is an album made by a couple in love and you can hear it in the music. Though not particularly varied, each song strikes all the right chords and the result is a collection of concise, upbeat tracks that are warm without ever being sappy.
Rice’s raspy voice complements Lewis’s crystal-clear twang well. The harmonies are at once beautiful and slightly disturbing, with a striking similarity to Winterpills. Relegated to the background on Acid Tongue, Rice is front and center here, taking the lead on two of the album’s finer songs, the fast rocker “Committed” and the passionate acoustic track “Animal.” Lewis’s powerful vocals are more subdued than usual on the album. They fit nicely within the framework of the songs but it’s a little disappointing to never hear her belt out the notes.
Again, that disappointment is due to expectations raised by other Jenny Lewis projects. If viewed as a follow-up to Acid Tongue, the album can be seen as lacking in variety and power. If viewed as the debut album by a new duo, it can be seen as a promising start by two talented musicians who will continue to grow into their new roles. I’ll go with the latter.
