Singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis crafts a story of aging, heartbreak and where those feelings can take you.
If you've ever heard Jenny Lewis sing, you may be surprised that her interest in music came after hearing The Beastie Boys. Her West Coast-driven sound is starkly different from rap or hip-hop, and critics have called "The Voyager," released in early August, her most California-esque album. It harkens back to '70s rock 'n' roll, with the melodies of bands like Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers informing the sound and feel of the music.
The entire album is a journey through Lewis' mind and her struggles over the last few years, from the dispersing of Lewis' former band Rilo Kiley to the death of her father, whom she only knew in the last few years of his life.
"The Voyager" is a strong narrative that paints a clear picture of where she finds herself now.
The opening track, "Head Under Water," centers on Lewis' experiences with insomnia following the death of her father in 2010. Certain lyrics allude to the strange state of mind that happens after days of not sleeping. "I took a blanket into the bath, opened my eyes and hallucinated. I took a nap and woke up in the grass," she sings.
With its Sheryl Crow-like guitar riffs, "She's Not Me" tells the story of a terrible breakup and seeing an ex with someone else, possibly alluding to the messy separation between Lewis and her former boyfriend and band mate Blake Sennett, a founding member of Rilo Kiley. The song is filled with the thoughts a person might have in that kind of situation, from the realization that you just gave up an important part of yourself to coming to terms with it being over.
The next song, "Just One of the Guys," is more about being a woman than anything else. It's not your typical run-of-the-mill, female-empowerment anthem, though. It's about a woman's struggle in getting older, following her dreams and being independent while still having to contend with questions such as whether she wants to settle down and have children. In one of the most profound lines, Lewis sings, "There's only one difference between you and me. When I look at myself, all I can see I'm just another lady without a baby."
"Aloha & the Three Johns" outlines many of the fears that come in a long-term relationship, set to the backdrop of a bad vacation. Many of the lines ring true about getting older, too, especially when she asks, "Is this the beginning of middle-aging?" The lyrics indicate that she can no longer handle many of the quirks that she took in stride in her youth.
The entire album is the latter chapter of a coming-of-age story for Lewis, and possibly, for many who of the listeners who've stuck with her over the years. Her album resonates with me. It tells the story of a woman struggling through personal issues, relationships and her independence, and that I can understand.
Though the album has a couple of weak spots, such as "Late Bloomer," overall, it's a great listen for those who are feeling equally unimpressed with what the aging process has to offer.
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