Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Youth says, "I can do it all." But years pass and suddenly, in music at least, the idea of collaborators, of stacking the deck in your favor while paying tribute to the past begins to have a canny appeal. There's no questioning Jenny Lewis' prodigious talents—Vegas-born successful child actor, onetime leader of the band Rilo Kiley and now, on her fourth solo album, a fan of old pros and the success of the California sound of the 70s.
Using the piano on which Carole King recorded Tapestry, and with vocals recorded in Sinatra's Capitol Records Studio B, On The Line evinces a cool, effective nerve and perspective in both Lewis’ dynamic singing and her multi-faceted songwriting, which here serve bruised, reflective lyrics about rampant familial dysfunction, hot sex and the edge between self-discovery and self-destruction. The wonderful specificity of her words adds vivid flavors as she argues about Elliott Smith and grenadine, plays Candy Crush, cries like Meryl Streep and looks up "at the chemtrail haze."
Where her last album The Voyager leaned towards an 80’s rock sound, this stronger set revels in a seductive musical homage to 70’s Fleetwood Mac-like L.A. decadence and hooky pop/rock. Lewis' sharp, imagistic originals are the star here. The album’s rocker, "Red Bull and Hennessy," complete with an abrupt ending, is appropriately intoxicating. Led by an acoustic piano, "Wasted Youth" examines one of Lewis favorite subjects. If there’s any controversy here it lies in the gleaming sound and glossy production choices which, centered on her voice, layers on the reverb, big drums and a booming ambience.
And then there's that aforementioned supporting cast. Starting with heavyweights like Beck and Ryan Adams producing and playing on the album, the band here speaks volumes about Lewis’ reputation and talent and includes drummers Jim Keltner and Ringo Starr, guitarists Smokey Hormel and Jason Faulkner, bassist Don Was and keyboardist Benmont Tench.
Simultaneously harrowing, irresistible and more than a little calculating, On The Line, with its accumulated experience and wisdom is a career milestone. © Robert Baird / Qobuz
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
From $10.83/month
Don Was, Bass - Benmont Tench, Organ - Jenny Lewis, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer, Guitar - Richard Dodd, Cello - Daphne Chen, Violin - Eric Gorfain, Violin - Ringo Starr, Drums - Leah Katz, Viola - Shawn Everett, Mixer - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Don Was, Bass - Benmont Tench, Organ, Mellotron - Jenny Lewis, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer, Guitar - Richard Dodd, Cello - Daphne Chen, Violin - Eric Gorfain, Violin - Leah Katz, Viola - Shawn Everett, Mixer - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Don Was, Bass - Benmont Tench, Organ, Piano - Jenny Lewis, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer, Guitar, Piano - Ringo Starr, Drums - Shawn Everett, Mixer, Additional Production - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Don Was, Bass - Benmont Tench, Organ - Jenny Lewis, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer, Guitar - Shawn Everett, Mixer - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Beck Hansen, Producer, Organ, Piano, Background Vocals, Synthesizer - Benmont Tench, Organ, Piano - Jenny Lewis, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Darrell Thorp, Recorded by - Shawn Everett, Mixer - Jason Faulkner, Guitar, Bass - David Greenbaum, Percussion, Synthesizer, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer - Christian Hutson, Background Vocals
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Don Was, Bass - Benmont Tench, Mellotron - Jenny Lewis, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer, Guitar - Shawn Everett, Mixer - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Don Was, Bass - Benmont Tench, Organ - Jenny Lewis, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer, Guitar - Shawn Everett, Mixer, Additional Production - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Beck Hansen, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Jenny Lewis, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Darrell Thorp, Recorded by - Smokey Hormel, Guitar - Shawn Everett, Mixer - Jason Faulkner, Guitar, Bass - David Greenbaum, Percussion, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Don Was, Bass - Jenny Lewis, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer - Richard Dodd, Cello - Daphne Chen, Violin - Eric Gorfain, Violin - Leah Katz, Viola - Shawn Everett, Mixer - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Don Was, Bass - Benmont Tench, Organ - Jenny Lewis, Piano, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Charlie Stavish, Recorded by - Ryan Adams, Producer, Guitar - Shawn Everett, Mixer - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Beck Hansen, Producer, Background Vocals - Benmont Tench, Organ, Piano - Jenny Lewis, Lead Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Jim Keltner, Drums - Beatriz Artola, AdditionalEngineer - Darrell Thorp, Recorded by - Smokey Hormel, Guitar - Shawn Everett, Mixer - Jason Faulkner, Guitar, Bass - David Greenbaum, AdditionalEngineer - Randy Merrill, Masterer - Jeff Fitzpatrick, AdditionalEngineer - Dylan Day, Guitar
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Album review
Youth says, "I can do it all." But years pass and suddenly, in music at least, the idea of collaborators, of stacking the deck in your favor while paying tribute to the past begins to have a canny appeal. There's no questioning Jenny Lewis' prodigious talents—Vegas-born successful child actor, onetime leader of the band Rilo Kiley and now, on her fourth solo album, a fan of old pros and the success of the California sound of the 70s.
Using the piano on which Carole King recorded Tapestry, and with vocals recorded in Sinatra's Capitol Records Studio B, On The Line evinces a cool, effective nerve and perspective in both Lewis’ dynamic singing and her multi-faceted songwriting, which here serve bruised, reflective lyrics about rampant familial dysfunction, hot sex and the edge between self-discovery and self-destruction. The wonderful specificity of her words adds vivid flavors as she argues about Elliott Smith and grenadine, plays Candy Crush, cries like Meryl Streep and looks up "at the chemtrail haze."
Where her last album The Voyager leaned towards an 80’s rock sound, this stronger set revels in a seductive musical homage to 70’s Fleetwood Mac-like L.A. decadence and hooky pop/rock. Lewis' sharp, imagistic originals are the star here. The album’s rocker, "Red Bull and Hennessy," complete with an abrupt ending, is appropriately intoxicating. Led by an acoustic piano, "Wasted Youth" examines one of Lewis favorite subjects. If there’s any controversy here it lies in the gleaming sound and glossy production choices which, centered on her voice, layers on the reverb, big drums and a booming ambience.
And then there's that aforementioned supporting cast. Starting with heavyweights like Beck and Ryan Adams producing and playing on the album, the band here speaks volumes about Lewis’ reputation and talent and includes drummers Jim Keltner and Ringo Starr, guitarists Smokey Hormel and Jason Faulkner, bassist Don Was and keyboardist Benmont Tench.
Simultaneously harrowing, irresistible and more than a little calculating, On The Line, with its accumulated experience and wisdom is a career milestone. © Robert Baird / Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:47:09
- Main artists: Jenny Lewis
- Label: Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2019 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2019 Warner Records Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
