Acid Tongue (2008)

Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis, once merely a tart-tongued indie-rock pixie with surprisingly powerful pipes, has evolved into a sort of modern-day torch singer — a hip-swaying, soul-tugging chanteuse with a country-gospel heart. Acid Tongue, the follow-up to her folk-leaning 2006 solo debut, is girl-group bittersweet one moment (''Black Sand''), and roadhouse rowdy the next (''See Fernando''). ''Pretty Bird'' recalls Linda Ronstadt circa '75, while ''Jack Killed Mom'' may be the best thing the White Stripes never wrote. Various guests — including Elvis Costello, M. Ward, and the singer’s own sister and father — are fun, but Lewis clearly remains the star, rising. A–
Download This: Listen to tracks from Acid Tongue on the musician's MySpace page