Jenny and Johnny are Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis and her singer/songwriter boyfriend Johnathan Rice and “Scissor Runner” is a free taste of what’s to come from their album in return for an e-mail address. The handsome couple’s name bursts with innocence and memories of children’s books and their music is paved in nostalgia.
“Scissor Runner” is a generic jangly ’60s-inspired affair with hollow sugary harmonies and nonsensical rhymes. This may explain why it’s being given away for free but as an introduction to what’s to come it’s disappointing. Jenny’s soft voice shines while Johnny sounds reminiscent of Super Furry Animals’ frontman Gruff Rhys. It’s melancholy and wistful which hints at something potentially more interesting but as it is it’s unambitious and dull. It’s not terrible but it has an air of “it will do” that makes it difficult to believe that anyone will absolutely love this.
