The album contains a cover of the Traveling Wilburys song "Handle With Care", featuring Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes) and M. Ward.

[16] Within Jenny Lewis' discography, Rabbit Fur Coat is considered "a pivotal key change" for her,[17] serving as a springboard for "one of modern indie rock's most reliably cool careers.

"[4] Deemed her "melancholy opus,"[18] Coat is known as "[a] tantalizing effort" that led Lewis to success both critically and commercially beyond her band Rilo Kiley.

In a 2012 MTV feature, Swedish indie folk duo First Aid Kit revealed their use of Coat as a reference point while making their album The Lion's Roar, released that same year.

[24] with other reviews calling the opener track "a breathy, gospel-tinged number"[25] with a "blast of impassioned close harmony bluegrass-style vocals.