- Record Label: Team Love / Rough Trade
- Release Date: Jan 24, 2006
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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It's a moody, atmospheric listen that never gets quite as melancholy as it suggests and holds together better than any Rilo Kiley album to date.
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Using acoustic country gospel to explore the doubt-ridden downside of faith and her weakness to "my own destructive appetites," Lewis enlists Nashville twins Chandra and Leigh Watson to soften her sharp words with sparkling harmonies.
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BillboardShe is grappling with issues of faith, but she is charmingly skeptical. [28 Jan 2006]
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BlenderThe record has the relationship to "genuine" roots music that its titular ratty heirloom implies--it's a perfect fake, dyed to match the sensibility of a skeptic who won't give up. [Mar 2006, p.108]
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Rabbit Fur Coat is an album of easy strumming and likeable melodies, a PG distillation of vintage country influences and the Watson Twin’s spot-on gospel harmonies.
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It's [Lewis'] powerful voice and compelling storytelling... that makes the songs of busted relationships and failed faith really sting.
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Entertainment WeeklyConsider Lewis the Emmylou Harris of the Silverlake set. [3 Feb 2006, p.70]
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You know it's special from the first bars.
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She benefits from solid production by Saddle Creek staple Mike Mogis, who tweaks her retro sound with synths and electronic blips, but it's the stark M. Ward-produced tracks that, while more traditional, showcase the Dolly Parton potential in Lewis's voice.
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On repeated listens, the songwriting makes the album lukewarm.
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Exceptionally charming.
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Q MagazineThe real stars... are Lewis's songs. [Feb 2006, p.103]
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Rolling StoneHer girlishly seductive vocals are more versatile than ever. [9 Feb 2006, p.62]
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A left-of-center delight that will tide over the Rilo Kiley faithful until their next album.
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An album of rich country, folk, and gospel music.
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Lewis draws from country and pop to build indelible songs around some capital "T" themes.
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UncutA dozen remarkable tracks. [Feb 2006, p.78]
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Under The RadarA folksy, crooning, homespun collection of intimate, honest, and bittersweet songs that actually doesn't sound like the Rilo Kiley canon. [#12, p.92]
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Though the singer-with-backup music relies on formula that won't set anyone's life straight, her melodic chops--sweet as a writer, supple as a singer--put the songs across.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 43 out of 58
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Mixed: 8 out of 58
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Negative: 7 out of 58
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Feb 2, 2012
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JeremyFJun 24, 2007
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ChrisFFeb 27, 2007Really good, yes not happy songs but there's enough plastic ,smiley make beleive out there.