I would very much like to steal a joke from Josh, but I'm pretty sure he'd punch me in the face if I did, so instead I'll just mention that “Foxfire” is a fantastic movie for a couple of reasons. Take from that what you will, but if you're into the way Jenny Lewis makes you feel, you know, down there, you'll like “Foxfire”, too.

Much as I hate to admit it, I'd really expected this album to be all fluff and no stuff. I mean, her skirts have been getting pretty short lately, a change was to be anticipated. If you're familiar with the stylistic changes that Jenny's home-base-band had been making with their sound from album to album, then Rabbit Fur Coat landing squarely in alt-country territory should come as no shock (particularly with the inclusion of scene darlings, The Watson Twins). In an interview she'd done with CMJ a while back, she basically called this album and it's sound 'a return to her white girl blues roots'. Never before has a description been more accurate as it is in this case. Is she going to become the female version of Ryan Adams within the genre? God I hope not, I'd hate her with a beard and a bad temper. If nothing else, this is one of the hottest album covers in years.

In just 38 minutes, this album is going to treat you to revivals, political-leanings, social-commentating, personal-demons and a host of indie superstar guest spots. About the only missing is her coming out and doing a cover of an Anti-Flag cover of a Woody Guthrie song, but maybe we'll get that as a b-side somewhere. Starting off promisingly with an (almost) a capella “Run Devil Run”, you're introduced (in many cases) to the strength of voice that these three young ladies possess. Voices so clear and smooth that you'd swear up and down that they'd run rough-shot over the competition should any of them lower themselves to American Idol standards. Moving quickly on to the barn dance-tinged, foot-stomping, Jesus-questioning “Big Guns”, wherein the voices of these Angels openly ponder the existence of anything resembling an omniscient being. Toss in some slick harmonizing, a pros pos hand-clapping and you've got yourself a rabble-rousing song for the sloppy-clothes set. So far, so good.

Track and track again, I'm impressed with one thing more than any other...the absolute power these women project with their voice. Forget subject matter. Forget what they're actually saying. Forget the accompanying musicianship. Just listen to the tones for a moment. Nice, isn't it? Now go listen to the Simpson sisters. Painful, no? Further proof that the best things in life are hiding from most people. Back to the show.

Jumping ahead, we saunter on to a track called “Happy”, whereupon Jenny damn near channels Patsy Cline, far more convincingly than those who really try to do so. This is a sleepy number with barely-there instruments that lend a lullaby-like quality to the overall feel. Lyrically, this is an above-average “woman scorned, still loves him” song that details a less than blissful relationship with more modern imagery than the sound might suggest. “Melt Your Heart” is perhaps the finest song of the album, with hushed harmonies, morose subject matter and a very simple, very immediate song structure that goes a long way towards complimenting the simple, repeatable lyrics. This is where Jenny soars as a song-writer, and there are a number of songs from her catalog with Rilo Kiley that fall into this category. The cover of “Handle With Care” is primarily notable for the guest stars (Ryan Adams, Connor Oberst, and the venerable Ben Gibbard), and just kind of comes off as a “With A Little Help From My Friends” kind of track that pays a nod to the folks who helped get our star out of acting and into the music world. “Born Secular” will start off in a very familiar way for some folks, with a little sequencer love for fans of old. More than any other song, though, the title track of Rabbit Fur Coat, delves quiet deeply into Jenny's own past and her relationship with her mother in an Eminem via indie rock way. Let's just say that I hadn't seen that one coming...at all. Were it not for “Melt Your Heart”, this would be the stand out track.

All in all, this is a stellar solo debut for a woman who is rapidly becoming an obsession for fans and critics alike. My one real bitch is that her voice lacks the some of the expressiveness of works past, opting instead to tween between soaring to the highs and nestling into the quietude of a whisper. The melodies are all very well composed and performed, and should play well on a-sure-to-come club tour. The challenge will be with what to do with her next album, because if she pulls out more of the same, people might start to get a little bored. I liked Rabbit Fur Coat, but I think I preferred Sun, Sun, Sun (by The Elected...you know, her band-mate and former cast-mate's side project?).