Jenny Lewis

Jenny Lewis is an indie institution. A former young actor who quit acting, she shifted to music and connected with another former young actor (Blake Bennett) to form Rilo Kiley, which ended up becoming one of the more definitive and influential bands of the '00s indie scene. Her subsequent solo career followed a slightly different trajectory and took her to that warm and spongy place between alt country and soft rock, within the gravitational pull of the classic '70s Laurel Canyon sound, though without actually getting fully sucked in. There are some mild Fleetwood Mac vibes in her music, which she navigates successfully on account of her strength as a songwriter and directness as a performer. Her songs feel honest, and her audience feels a connection with them. They are also packed with a melodic tone that falls between being memorable and catchy.