Acid Tongue

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With basic tracks cut as close to live as possible, including the lead vocals, the Rilo Kiley singer’s second solo album expresses a raw excitement, strongly supported by an enviable guestlist and the impressive sonics of Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, CA, where the recording for Neil Young’s <i>After the Goldrush</i> and Nirvana’s <i>Nevermind</i> once took place. With those ghosts in the air, Lewis set out to capture a performance, and that she does. Elvis Costello adds his coarse edge for a duet of “Carpetbaggers.” M. Ward adds his peculiar guitar to “Pretty Bird.” The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson joins for the title track. Despite these high-ranking names, the spotlight is strongly on Lewis who sings with even greater elasticity and authority, as evidenced by the swooping theatrics of “Black Sand,” the funky PJ Harvey-like seductress moves behind the eight-minute epic “The Next Messiah,” and the perky chirpiness she infuses into “Sing a Song for Them” and the cello-violin supported, gospel-tinged “Trying My Best to Love You” (also featuring a vocal from Zooey Deschanel). Lewis manages to vary her attack without ever losing focus.

via Apple Music