Rilo Kiley Singer Runs Solo

Is it just me, or are many up-and-coming artists taking long, stiff sips on brews of folk and country music? Okay, maybe it's just what I am listening to, but Jenny Lewis, lead singer of indie-rock band Rilo Kiley, certainly follows suit. Her debut solo album, "Rabbit Fur Coat," featuring the Watson Twins, suggests that her country influences are inescapable. While "strict constructionist" country music lovers may scoff at this rock singer's attempt at a bluegrass album, Lewis has her heart in the right place when it comes to capturing the attitude and feeling of folk music.

"A lot of these songs are just folk songs in a lot of ways," said Lewis, discussing her album in a recent interview on National Public Radio. "They started out on an acoustic guitar — just voice and guitar — and were written simply and tell a story."

When it comes down to it, folk and country music are really just about telling stories. Unfortunately, that's where this album's major problem lies. Lewis' stories are simply not the kind we want to hear from a country singer.

Uninspiring narratives aside, the actual vocals are terrific. Lewis croons passionately and the Watson Twins fit like that wedge from "The Missing Piece." This is the first time I have listened to a solo album and fallen in love with the backup musicians. Nowhere is my love stronger than the opening one-two punch of the a cappella "Run Devil Run" and the "The Big Guns."

"Run Devil Run," a traditional three-part harmony, rings with gospel influences and announces Lewis' intent to subscribe to the teachings of Nashville greats and Appalachian heroes.

The opening guitars of "The Big Guns" are a shock after the delicate harmonies of the previous song. Like a downhill runaway train, the song rumbles along, unstoppable, with that country, foot-stompin' rhythm. Other highlights include the semi-autobiographical title track "Rabbit Fur Coat," a brilliant rags-to-riches story, and the depressing confessional "Happy." Both feature beautifully plucked acoustic guitar and strong vocals. "Melt Your Heart," another strong ballad spotlighting Lewis and the Watson Twins, lives up to its lyrics: "It's bound to melt your heart."

But the album's mediocrity catches up to the runaway train on "Rise Up With Fists." The first single from the album, this is a lazy song that highlights Lewis' strong voice but also draws attention to her surprisingly lackluster lyrical composition. Reflecting the uninspiring lyrics, the accompanying music lacks any semblance of a pop hook and, in short, is straight-up boring.

"Born Secular," the album's longest track, clocking in at a long five Nashville minutes, is an apathetic, self-centered epic about religion, a shoe-in for soporific mix tapes. "Handle With Care" is a tolerable cover of The Traveling Wilburys' original that is only slightly redeemed by the vocal cameos of Ben Gibbard, Conor Oberst, and M. Ward.

Ultimately, even strong vocals and some topnotch songs can't compensate for the album's overall "eh" factor. Rilo Kiley fans, eat your hearts out. Your heroine just released her first solo album. And just like Gwen Stefani's first album outside No Doubt, "Rabbit Fur Coat" has potential but still has a long way to go. There's a reason they call these things "efforts." Still, you have to give Lewis some credit. For someone who said at age 12 that she "loved all music but country," 20 years down the road, this folk-inspired album could have been a lot worse.