I don’t know whether you guys know this or not, but Jenny Lewis is California.
Seriously, when I think of the Golden State, I think first of the former Rilo Kiley frontwoman and her last couple-a seminal California-theme-song-packed albums, such as 2006’s Rabbit Fur Coat and 2008’s Acid Tongue. Needless to say, then, her absence from the scene for the past several years has left everyone with a strange sense of “what ever happened to California”? I can barely remember where that place is, honestly! Wait — what place was I talking about again???
So yeah, I can obviously speak for us all when I say that I’m greatly relieved that Lewis has announced her return with a new album, titled The Voyager, which will be released by Warner Bros. Records on July 29 and which will promptly put the state of California back on the fucking map, son. And speaking of “back on the map,” here’s a super-smooth transition into some backstory shit:
“Making The Voyager got me through one of the most difficult periods of my life,” Lewis says. “After Rilo Kiley broke up and a few really intense personal things happened, I completely melted down […] I had such severe insomnia that, at one point, I didn’t sleep for five straight nights.” She then goes on to insist that “many of the songs on The Voyager came out of the need to occupy my mind in the moments when I just couldn’t shut down,” but I’m sorta hoping that it sounds a little more fun and breezy and rootsy and golden than that in real life, to be honest.
And speaking of those adjectives, producers for the various tracks include the likes of such California-rific artists as Ryan Adams (who produced all but three of the tracks), Beck, and Lewis’ usual musical cohort Johnathan Rice. Sounds like a beach party I gotta be at! Seriously, California is officially back in business, folks. Thank you, Jenny Lewis.
The Voyager tracklisting:
01. Head Underwater
02. She’s Not Me
03. Just One of the Guys
04. Slippery Slopes
05. Late Bloomer
06. You Can’t Outrun ‘Em
07. The New You
08. Aloha & The Three Johns
09. Love U Forever
10. The Voyager
Jenny Lewis tour dates:
05.21.14 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory
05.24.14 - Boston, MA - Boston Calling Festival
06.04.14 - Portland, ME - State Theatre
06.06.14 - New York, NY - Governor’s Ball (Randall’s Island)
06.07.14 - Washington DC - 930 Club
07.06.14 - Toronto, ON - Urban Roots Festival
07.08.14 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Blues Fest
07.10.14 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall *
07.11.14 - Orlando, FL - Bob Carr Performing Arts Center *
07.12.14 - Miami, FL - The Fillmore *
07.15.14 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre *
07.16.14 - Charleston, NC - North Charleston Performing Arts Center *
07.18.14 - Alpharetta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
07.19.14 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall *
07.20.14 - Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival
07.22.14 - Interlochen, MI - Kresge Auditorium *
07.23.14 - Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer Gardens *
07.25.14 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival
07.26.14 - Camden, NJ - XpoNential Music Festival
07.27.14 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls
07.31.14 - Indianapolis, IN - Deluxe at Old National Centre
08.02.14 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza
08.03.14 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
08.10.14 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Festival
10.03-05.14 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
10.10-12.14 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
* Ray LaMontagne
• Jenny Lewis: http://www.jennylewis.com
• Warner Bros.: http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com
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