Rilo Kiley singer Jenny Lewis is exploring new trails on her second solo outing. Half Country tinged Alternative Rock, the other half offers a mellow Lewis taking up the baton from Joni Mitchell.

Lewis, who made her name with Alternative Rock outfit Rilo Kiley, slips into the sound of early 70’s West Coast singer-songwriters like Mitchell, Carole King or Judee Sill with great ease. The harmonies on the title track are pure class, I haven’t heard something like this since Sill’s ‘Heart Food’ album.

Watch Jenny Lewis Play ‘Acid Tongue’

‘Black Sand’, ‘Godspeed’ and ‘Sing A Song’ are in a similar vein, chilled West Coast Rock with intricate melodies. It’s smooth stuff but you can sense how Lewis could turn any minute and drop the soft play.

Lewis is free to let go on the Country Rock numbers ‘See Fernando’, ‘The Next Messiah’ and ‘Carpetbaggers’. Yet it’s the quiet songs where she’s at her most mesmerising.

‘Carpetbaggers’ features Elvis Costello in a duet with Lewis. Costello, a long time Country fan, also contributes members of his band The Imposters who play on Lewis’ album. Costello is returning a favour here, as Lewis sang backing vocals on his most recent album ‘Momofuku’.

The two types of music on ‘Acid Tongue’ reflect the genesis of the album. Lewis said in interviews that she was inspird by the private jam sessions at West Coast musician Jonathan Wilson’s house in Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon.

Laurel Canyon was the centre of much of the West Coast scene in the early 70’s, home to a fluid mix of rock musicians with a yearn for Country and singers like Sill and Mitchell, all searching for the next party. Wilson picked up the canyon’s party tradition in recent years, hosting mid-week jams with old hands and up and coming talent. Established players would hail from bands like Wilco, The Black Crowes, The Jayhawks and 60’s band Electric Flag. Newcomers include Lewis and singer-songwriter Jacob Dylan.

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Listen To Jenny Lewis’ ‘Acid Tongue’ Here:

Readers from the UK and Ireland can download Jenny Lewis’ solo album ‘Acid Tongue’ from iTunes UK.