Male and female ensembles are nothing new in the music world. From staples such as Arcade Fire to more fleeting successes like She & Him, it seems these groups are dominating contemporary pop music. Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice, the duo behind Jenny and Johnny, are no exception.  

“I’m Having Fun Now” is the couple’s first official record together, although the two have been working on various projects since 2005.  The chemistry between these two artists is clear, and the result is an album that perfectly enriches all of their many talents.

The record kicks off with “Scissor Runner,” and it’s immediately clear that Lewis and Rice have something great going for them. Their voices complement each other perfectly, and anyone familiar with Lewis’ days in Rilo Kiley will appreciate the song.  

The opening track has an upbeat feel, and together, the band guides the listener through 10 more tracks, each one somehow just as enjoyable as the last. If any song captures the loveliness of their voices together, it’s “Animal.” While the song itself is certainly easy on the ears, the real pleasure comes from hearing the voices of Lewis and Rice merge into one voice.  By the end of the song, it’s hard to separate them.  

One of the finest songs on “I’m Having Fun Now” is “While Men Are Dreaming,” a smooth, dreamy track hidden halfway through the album. Lewis’ soothing voice, combined with Rice’s quiet, barely-there background vocals blend together flawlessly.  What could have been a track to skip over is instead a welcome interruption.

Most of the album, however, is comprised of songs more similar to “My Pet Snakes” and “Just Like Zeus,” both of which have a beachy, sunny vibe. Fans of the songwriting of Jenny Lewis will enjoy these songs too, especially the latter. When she opens “My Pet Snakes” with dark lyrics like “I can’t sleep these days/And my blues they won’t go away/But I’ve been sleep walking down to the lake/And waking up in the water,” she’s reminiscent of the Jenny Lewis of so long ago.

The name Jenny and Johnny could be just one among a hundred boy-girl pop acts.  But “I’m Having Fun Now” separates them from these artists, thanks to an upbeat sound mixed with dark lyrics sung by the lovely blended voices of Lewis and Rice.  They are a duo that should not to be overlooked.