I'm Having Fun
Jenny and Johnny
I'm Having Fun Now
The rule goes that, if Jenny Lewis is to be on a recording, no one else need sing lead - or even backup - vocals. Not unless Tracyanne Campbell is for some reason in the room. The girl, known first for her work as a child actor (Troop Beverly Hills, The Wizard, etc.) and then as the fire-haired frontman of Rilo Kiley, can just flat out sing. There's something about her on-record work that's so cute and alluring and stylized, that, if you get a taste of it, is downright lovable. Speaking of lovable, for I'm Having Fun, Lewis' third non-Rilo record, Lewis teams with her longtime boyfriend, singer/songwriter Johnathan "Johnny" Rice for a duo album of power-pop fun. The vibe here is sunny California gloom; two lovers singing happy about how bummed or lost they sometimes are.
The highlight here, without question, is Lewis. Her vocals on songs like "My Pet Snakes" are perfect and sweet, flowing effortlessly over the bouncy and fun composition. Even Rice, also known for his vocal talent (he played Roy Orbison in Walk the Line, if that tells you anything), shines in Lewis' presence, singing breezy verses that remind of the lazy grace of Evan Dando. The lyrics are simple and read exactly like something a boyfriend and girlfriend might come up with while laying on a picnic blanket or killing time around the house. The key word when speaking of I'm Having Fun Now, the duo's aptly titled debut, is fun, for sure. Unlike She & Him (who I also like very much), Jenny and Johnny don't rely on how cute and dusty and retro they can make everything. Another difference between the two bands is the obvious chemistry between Rice and Lewis, J and J working together in a way that only two people singing in cars and showers and beds together can.
"Big Wave," the record's first single, has all the makings of a hit radio single, if only radio stations still mattered. Don't be surprised if you hear this bright and sunny pop single in movies or on television commercials before year's end. Maybe in hip restaurants or stores, even. In the song Lewis takes the vocal lead, singing about varied topics like "taking lovers," the bad financial decisions Americans make, the pills so many rely on and more, mostly just singing the hook, "big wave," over and over again, at once sweet and powerful. Girl's got vocal skills.
"While Men Are Dreaming," one of the more delicate cuts, sees Lewis again taking the lead over a chorus of Rice vocals and distant guitars, singing a - yep - dreamy tune about a nearby lover - teasing her male fans as she has so many times over the years. It's not surprising that Lewis and Rice, who have toured together plenty in the past, work so well together. Their voices are both so light and likable, causing crushes and bringing smiles with almost every lyrics. In the past I've described Lewis' vocal style as "girlfriend vocals," and here I'm comfortable calling Rice a Boyfriend Singer, sending crush vibes out to lady ears everywhere.
I could go on, but this is a fairly simple record that demands little dissection. Just a batch of pop songs, basically, that feel sunny and fun despite their sometimes gloomy lyrics. The songs are well written if not deep, and the compositions and production, handled by J and J and assisted by Mike Mogis, are always solid. Imagine a pop record made by and for fans of both The Lemonheads' more melodic moments and, no joke, Teenage Fanclub (and maybe even newcomers Best Coast) and you have Jenny and Johnny. The vocals and collaboration far better than even expected, I've found much to love about I'm Having Fun Now, the most accessible - and maybe even best - Lewis-related project since The Execution of All Things. The biggest surprise is how consistent the album is from front to back, "Straight Edge of the Blade" the only slacker in the pack. Bravo to the lovers. 8/10
Written by G. William Locke