Jenny and Johnny: "Big Wave"

Back in 2005, Scottish singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice played on Jenny Lewis’s Rabbit Fur Coat; the two sparked and have since started up a professional and personal partnership. Their upcoming release I’m Having Fun Now finds them on equal ground for the first time as Jenny & Johnny, though Rice may struggle trying to share the spotlight with a reigning indie queen. “Big Wave,” the album’s second single, offers a slice of summery California pop like a lazy August day: satisfying enough but not too memorable. A retro appeal lies in the cheery Wilson Phillips harmonies of the chorus as Lewis croons “It’s gonna hit you with a big wave” over do-do-do’s and lightly grinding guitar. It’s one of those indie rock songs that sounds like a celebration of life and the beach but is really about being depressed and taking pills.

Jenny Lewis has proven herself to be a sharp-witted songwriter and charismatic vocalist, both in her early work with Rilo Kiley and her more recent solo efforts. We need only look to The Execution of All Things (2002), Rabbit Fur Coat (2006), and songs like the gorgeous “Godspeed” from 2008’s Acid Tongue, as examples of her charm and occasional brilliance. But “Big Wave” doesn’t wear its Jenny Lewis-ness on its sleeve like it should. While it’s a alt-rock throwback from Lewis’s recent 1970s California bell-sleeves and jam sessions sound, it’s far less vibrant than a Rilo Kiley track. And while Lewis’s presence is felt here more than Rice’s (which is restricted to backing vocals), I can’t help but wonder if “Big Wave” is the sound of his mostly flavorless folk dulling her usually sharper melodies. Even post-Rilo Kiley, Lewis has been a fan of collaboration, bringing Elvis Costello and Bright Eyes in on her solo records. But Rice, neither idol nor equal in terms of talent and success, seems like an uncomfortable fit.

“Big Wave” works fine as a summer song to stream out of car windows. That said, it feels half-hearted, less appealing than similarly spirited Rilo Kiley tracks “Spectacular Views” and “Silver Lining.” In a nutshell, Jenny Lewis has released a perfectly acceptable pop song with her less-talented boyfriend. These things happen. But it’s only a fraction of what she can do.