2006 was a strong year for female artists. My top twenty that year featured seven women (including Neko Case, Regina Spektor and Nellie McKay). Among the best of those albums was Jenny Lewis’ Rabbit-Fur Coat, a collection of folksy pop songs featuring backup vocals by The Watson Twins (who look like the creepy girls from The Shining all grown up).

This was my first exposure to Lewis, who is better known as the lead singer of the group Rilo Kiley. I don’t have any of their albums, though her solo work intrigues me enough that I might check them out.

Lewis is also featured on Elvis Costello’s latest album, Momofuku, singing backup on a few tracks and he returned the favor by duetting with her on a track from her newest release (out just this week, I believe). Small world.

This song is summed up pretty neatly by its chorus (“There but for the grace of God go I”). It looks at the hypocrisy and frailty, and ultimately the redemption, of humanity.

Here’s a favorite verse of mine:

Note the Sarah Silverman cameo in the video (not sure if this was the official video or something on Silverman’s show, but it’s the album version of the song, not a live performance).