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Amy E
Amy E
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What's all the fuss about?

Posted over 3 years ago
It's been quite awhile since I bought a truly "new" album, i.e. completely unheard. Most albums I own are old favorites I'm replacing or have at least a few songs I have heard.So I've read tons of reviews about how fantastic Rilo Kiley is and all their records have 4 1/2 stars and they seem to have been just an instant success. Plus, a couple friends have recommended them.Anyway, I've listened to The Execution of All Things a couple times and I'm just not getting what all the fuss is about. I don't think they are bad or anything but the music just seems a little too "hipper than thou" for me. The really precisely pronounced lyrics, whiney backups, and random twangy background instrumentations...I'm just not feeling it.They remind me of a watered down version of the band Sarge, which had much more biting lyrics and just overall rocked a little harder. I understand what Rilo Kiley is going for but I just think they over did the whole indie-band-experiementing-with-different-styles of music thing. It leaves the album feeling like a collection of weak versions of emo country songs.Am I just missing something here? Should I try a different album first? Any body else feeling the same about this band?
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Comments (17)

  1. BMichael
    BMichael says Girl, rilo kiley sucks.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  2. deadmandeadman
    deadmandeadman says I'm with ya on this one.....i think r.k.'s way to generic, formulaic. But everyone's so intent on likin' 'em.......i thought it was just me.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  3. SWozniak
    SWozniak says Jenny Lewis and her voice have my heart.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  4. A Horse With No Name
    A Horse With No Name says " the music just seems a little too “hipper than thou” for me. " I often feel that way about practically every HIP new band. Whether it be Rilo Kiley, Ben Kweller, TV On The Radio, Of Montreal..... et al. Just feel like I'm being forced to like something that most likely sucks or is just o.k. but it's "must have" or "must listening" because the self-proclaimed designators of cool say so........ Screw them. Listen to what appeals to you. I've often rejected new bands just because of that status only to later find I like them after the HYPE dies down....... But some bands just suck anyways, ex. Arctic Monkeys..............
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  5. Joxley
    Joxley says I'm with Shawn on this one...maybe they are a band for the guys.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  6. d0gstar
    d0gstar says to quote Mista Chuck, "Don't, don't, don't believe the hype." But I do sometimes - bought a Walkmen album (the one with the Rat) on a 10.0 from Pitchfork - hated it. Listened to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - didn't like them, but was at least smart enough not to BUY anything. Same goes for Cold War Kids, Grizzly Bear, ad infinitum, almost. My point is, and I'm digressing all the way from here to Hayward, is that it's nice to have the interwebs to check things out. I haven't heard much of Rilo Kiley, but I have to say that I have a constitutional bias against all things Saddle Creek because I think Mr. Conor Oberst, savior of indie rock, Dylan of his generation blah blah blah, is a whiny bitch. Him and Ryan Adams should start a mutual admiration society, though I do think Ryan Adams is vastly more talented than Mr. Whiny Bitch. And I'm finished. ;D
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  7. SWozniak
    SWozniak says I really like the lyrics. I only have More Adventurous, but I think it's a very lyrically sound album. That, and Jenny Lewis. Le swoon!
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  8. Joxley
    Joxley says Take ofs and Landing is also a solid Rilo Kiley album, you might want to try that. Jenny Lewis's solo album is also brilliant in my opinion. And Shawn, back off, Jenny's mine, and I have the restraining order to prove it!!
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  9. Amy E
    Amy E says Actually, I love Jenny Lewis' voice as well. It was listening to some of her solo work that made me finally decide to buy some Rilo Kiley. I just don't think they took advantage of her wonderful voice (at least on this album). In fact, I think she tries a little too hard to sound whiney emo ( and I usually love emo). It's just a little contrived in my opinion. But her solo work, what I've heard of it anyway, is really great.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  10. Amy E
    Amy E says Oh and seriously if you like her voice, check out Sarge. I don't have any links to their music but I'm pretty sure that they have some stuff up on iTunes. Glass Intact is one of my favorite albums. Elizabeth Elmore has amazingly clean tone for the front woman of what's considered a punk band.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  11. lisj27
    lisj27 says i know a lot of people who feel the way you do... i could be way off base in saying this but i think that at the time when rilo kiley formed they were one of the few bands doing what they were doing... i mean now in the days of myspace, purevolume, etc, etc, i can see where it may just seem whatever... another band... but when take offs and landings was released i believed it was truly something different and thats why it appealed to me... as each album has been released they're each a little more polished and quite different... that being said i highly reccommend listening to take offs and more adventerous before making a final opinion... i think the overall scope of the albums is broad enough that you're bound to enjoy something... and if not than rilo kiley just isn't your band... personally i love them all but i can see where your coming from... i'm still scratching my head over broken social scene...
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  12. Amy E
    Amy E says actually, i think the problem is that this type of music was going on for quite awhile before rilo kiley. check out the Old 97's. i think they pull off the whole country emo thing with a great tongue-in-cheek vibe to it. or Wilco, especially the songs with Billy Bragg. Maybe I'm comparing oranges and apples here but based on the reviews and recommendations that's sort of what I expected from this band. I will definitely check out Take Offs and Landings though. I'll always give a band a second chance :)
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  13. d0gstar
    d0gstar says please excuse my rant, above, to any Ryan Adams/Conor Oberst/Pitchfork fans. Had a frustrating morning call with Roadrunner tech support, and it shows.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  14. Slewzeus
    Slewzeus says My boss brought in some Rilo Kiley a few months ago...I quickly misplaced the CD in hopes that he would forget to play it....it worked...that about sums up Rilo Kiley ....Forgetable
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  15. jonnyalmagest
    jonnyalmagest says Yeah, my friend was obsessing over Rilo Kiley and Jenny's solo stuff for a few months about the same time I was listening to a lot of Minus the Bear and Mars Volta. So we swapped and both of us agreed quickly we wanted to swap back. There were a few songs I liked, but I definately agree that it sounded too...forced.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  16. SatisfiedMind614
    SatisfiedMind614 says I can not be partial here...as I am in love with Jenny Lewis...but I think Rilo Kiley hare a great rock band...nothing original, but they do what they do well
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006
  17. 82times
    82times says Amy, I agree with your initial evaluation of Rilo Kiley. Kind of boring. Not an album I want to put on to listen to, but I won't change the station if it comes on the [internet] radio.
    Permalink posted 10/29/2006

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