Jenny Lewis, the former Rilo Kiley lead singer, has always had a little country influence in her solo albums and on “Joy’all” she embraces that style.
Radiating positivity and a slick Nashville vibe Lewis was inspired to write many of the songs in a series of zoom sessions with Beck who challenged her to write a song a day no matter how contrived. That goofiness can be found throughout the album.
Now in her forties and childless, Lewis pokes fun at herself rather than taking it too seriously and many of the songs are endearingly self deprecating.
There is some melancholy to the album but it’s usually resolved within the span of a song and as the album’s title suggests the joy she has found at this point in life is inspiring and infectious.