Life, Loss, and the Meaning of It All, on Jenny Lewis's New Album “Joy'All”
Release Date: June 9th, 2023
Beginning as a child actress in the 1980s, Jenny Lewis regaled the public with silver-screen hits from Troop Beverly Hills to The Wizard. After retiring from acting to focus on her musical career and forming the band Rilo Kiley, Lewis would release five solo albums - her most recent being Joy’All, released this month.
Comprising ten songs and coming in at 32 minutes, Jenny Lewis gives listeners an insight into her life since her previous album, On the Line, and the lessons learned along the way. Lewis carries the audience through crisp vocals, nostalgic beats, and a feeling of warmth and comfort that is evident in even the saddest songs on the record.
Kicking off with “Psychos”, Lewis seems to be reflecting on her life and her choices. “Life goes in cycles, it’s a merry-go-round, I’ve been working off that juju from my hometown.” She thinks back to how her most formative experiences have impacted her today. Post-pandemic, the idea of hometowns, both returning to and fleeing from, is evident in countless new releases. Lewis asks how badly her counterpart wants her, and how she can help them before accepting that she has to get away from the situation.
“Joy’All”, the album's title track, follows the opener with more wisdom for the listener. She sings, “I was a little kid, a lot like you, and where there is love there's gonna be hate. We get a little bit wiser every day.” The song encapsulates the feeling of the album best - the pursuit of happiness despite past experiences. Not an escape from your past, but an acceptance of what it’s taught you.
In “Puppy and a Truck”, Lewis gives some of her most specific pieces of advice. “If you feel like giving up, shut up, get a puppy and a truck.” The simplicity of the joy of a loyal dog and a project you’re proud of (an old truck) can be all you need to begin turning your life around.
Even in the longing felt in “Apples and Oranges” and “Essence of Life”, there’s still a sense of maturity and growth that weaves its way through the entire album. Lewis isn’t just accepting things as they are, she’s taking every opportunity to grow and isn’t scared to admit that even sad feelings are necessary to make the most out of a human experience.
The remainder of the album carries this sentiment before ending with “Chain of Tears". “If it ain't right, it's wrong. If it ain't mint, it's flawed. If it ain't right, don't paint thosе red flags white. If it ain't right, it's wrong” The perfect closer to an album centered around life advice and experiences, Lewis sends off the listener with the need for acceptance and the ability to move on.
Overall, Joy’All truly lives up to its name. The ideology of finding joy in bad experiences supplemented with country-pop beats and hopeful guitar strums leads listeners into a summer of self-empowerment.