The Voyager

AlbumJul 25 / 201410 songs, 40m 4s
Pop Rock
Popular

After a prolific first decade as a recording artist—between the band Rilo Kiley, her solo efforts, and side collaborations, she released eight full-length albums—Jenny Lewis took her time working on *The Voyager*, her third solo album. The six years that followed her sophomore release (2008\'s *Acid Tongue*) let Lewis refine and polish these 10 buoyant tracks. Working with two producers who are worthy of her wickedly intelligent songwriting—Ryan Adams and Beck—she devised her most mature and confident album to date. Lewis has rarely sounded in greater command of her versatile vocal gifts, from the sharp, vaulting chorus of the beat-driven opener, “Head Underwater”—which chronicles her emergence from a dark period (“I put my head underwater, baby/I held my breath until it passed”)—to the classic soul melody of “She’s Not Me” and the pleading western noir “You Can’t Outrun ‘Em.” The effervescent, summery production contrasts thoughtfully with Lewis’ piercing lyrics, which find her surveying life with restlessness and resignation in equal measure.

7.2 / 10

Jenny Lewis' third solo album is defined and motivated by a sense of personal nostalgia, as these songs sift through Lewis’ past to find some key to her present. It’s not anchored in one particular scene, but plays as broadly California, with sly nods to the Byrds in the guitars, the Go-Go’s in the vocals, and Randy Newman in the wry humor.

C

There’s a lot of implied movement on The Voyager, the third solo LP by former Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis. The record’s namesake, after all, is the only manmade object to reach interstellar space; its title track is one of several on The Voyager that delineates the differences between moving forward and moving…

8 / 10

The former Rilo Kiley frontwoman reaffirms her position as one of the finest songwriters of her generation after a six-year lay-off with her most diverse record to date

7.6 / 10

Rilo Kiley didn’t technically break up until 2011, but the band was clearly on the rocks by the time Jenny Lewis released…

Check out our album review of Artist's The Voyager on Rolling Stone.com.

Lurking beneath the seductive, supple gloss of The Voyager lies a serious undercurrent of sorrow -- an undercurrent Jenny Lewis doesn't disguise but doesn't bring to the surface, either.

7 / 10

8.0 / 10

Jenny Lewis is one of the rare non-pop artists we've had the chance to grow alongside. Some of us were first acquainted with her as far back as her childhood acting roles—she'll always be Haley from The Wizard to me—while many caught up with her in th

Beneath the sunny production of the third solo album from former Rilo Kiley frontwoman lies an unsunny disposition, writes <strong>Kitty Empire</strong>

Jenny Lewis's 'The Voyager' offers a balanced mixture of exhaustion and wisdom, but the album feels in need of more cohesion.

6.0 / 10

Review of Jenny Lewis' LP 'The Voyager' out 8/29 on Warner. The first single of the LP is "Just One Of The Guys" Jenny Lewis plays 8/25 in Middletown, RI

Former Rilo Kiley singer Jenny Lewis delivers her first solo album in six years, and it's lyrically skilful but musically limited, writes <strong>Caroline Sullivan</strong>

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Album Reviews: Jenny Lewis - The Voyager

3.9 / 5

Jenny Lewis - The Voyager review: Nothin' lasts forever when you travel time.

Jenny Lewis' third solo album is overflowing with sunshine melodies and breezy harmonies, says Neil McCormick

California girl's return confounds expectations. Music review by Lisa-Marie Ferla

9 / 10