Heeeeeeeere's Jenny and Johnny!

Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis and her folk singer boyfriend Jonathan Rice forged their creative partnership during sessions for Jenny's solo disc Acid Tongue and contributions to Elvis Costello's Momofuku.

And it's serendipitous that Declan McManus has our CD of the Week.  His understudies of sweet melancholy Jenny and Johnny play this week's Morning Sessions Friday at 920am.

The, sometimes, biting songwriting, set against sun-kissed indie pop melodies on their debut I'm Having Fun Now offers the kind-of intriguing contradictions that often define relationships themselves.  Though their voices blend, beautifully, it almost seems like they're arguing.

"On the song 'Scissor Runner,' there's a line that Jenny sings" Rice says. "'I'll forgive you, if I outlive you.' And somebody said to me recently, 'I'm going to get that tattooed on my arm.' Another person said, 'Oh, that line makes me cry.' And this other person said...."

"What a couplet!" Lewis adds.

"That's a withering couplet you got there!" Rice says.

Sounds like THAT would make for nice matching tats!

CD of the Week: I'm Having Fun Now

Jenny Lewis' partnership with Johnathan Rice dates back to her 2006 solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat. The Rilo Kiley frontwoman later invited Rice to join her touring band and work on her captivating 2008 follow-up Acid Tongue.

Lewis and Rice take a step away from the alt-country elements of those solo albums in pursuit of power pop perfection. The resulting Jenny and Johnny debut, I'm Having Fun Now, harkens back to alternative new wave of the 1980's, and features a compelling blend of the duo's vocals.

Jenny and Johnny perform at Rams Head Live on Monday, October 25.

Altered Freebies: Cut Copy; Ra Ra Riot; !!!; Jenny and Johnny; Somebody Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

What's better than music? Free music. Producer Nick Jackson has scoured the Interwebs to bring you the best free downloads featured on this week's Altered Fridays, 4-7 p.m.

Cut Copy, "Where I'm Going"

The first single from the Australian dance rock band's fourth album channels New Order and The Beach Boys in equal measure.

Ra Ra Riot, "Boy"

Ra Ra Riot's first album was made shortly after the death of their original drummer, John Ryan Pyke. The band's mournful mood has lifted on "Boy," coming from their sophomore release, The Orchard.

!!!, "AM/FM"

!!! get in touch with the spirit of '80s radio culture with this danceable number from their new album, Strange Weather, Isn't It?

Jenny and Johnny, "Scissor Runner"

Is it the British Invasion? No, it's Jenny Lewis and her boytoy Jonathan Rice making adorable music together.

Somebody Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, "Sink/Let It Sway"

They apparently still love you early '70s power pop. Dig those handclaps!
(via Stereogum)