Obligatory Rilo Kiley

Posted about 1 year ago

Artist:

Rilo Kiley
Album:

Under the Blacklight
Track:
- PLAY
- QUEUE
Under the Blacklight

Its true. I like Rilo Kiley. BUT, I'm not one of those indie rock guys from LA that really want to fuck Jenny Lewis. Not that she's not a pretty girl- just not my type.
So, I got the new CD "Under the Blacklight." Here's the deal: Its not like expect Rilo Kiley to keep releasing "Take Offs and Landings" over and over until they break up (which every band who's not named The Rolling Stones will do, eventually.) Truth be told I kinda liked "More Adventurous" and I even took a liking to the Jenny Lewis solo album (the Traveling Wilburys cover was genius.) The new album definitely has its moments of brilliance. The Fleetwood Mac thing the have going to in "Dreamworld," which I heard on KROQ the other (freak me out), makes me feel nostalgic for the Mac, so that's OK. And, sonically its probably the best sounding album they've released.
But for some reason, I haven't really warmed up to this album yet. There seems to be a couple of trite sounding songs on the album (filler, not killer), and I'm not going to name song names. Not to mention I don't think I like all the "extra flair" instrumentation and soul BGV's (that's background vocals for the musically illiterate.) In summary, its not going to replace my favorite Rilo Kiley album anytime soon.
One thing I will say is that this song is hella cool. Disagree. I dare you.

Comments (11)

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wouldriotforless says I bought the album the day it came out and just wasnt feeling it. Usely I listen to somthing new for at least a couple of days..... Maybe I should pop it in again.

Permalink posted 10/06/2007
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dermahrk says I cannot disagree. I really like this.

Permalink posted 10/06/2007
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callabriel says The intro was cool...

Permalink posted 10/06/2007
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dik426 says Are you being too kind? Its OK not to like it. The melody is a bit repetitious and the inclusion of those beats at the beginning of the song probably sets up unfair expectations. The progression is kind of too basic, and Jenny singing the seventh on every fourth line is a bit excessive.
Actually, I like ALL of that, though. I think the way the bass guitar harmonizes the vocals on the verse is cute, too. Not excepting in this song, Blake's counterpoint guitar lines are also tasty!

Permalink posted 10/06/2007
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callabriel says I probably am being too kind... I wasn't feeling it. I'm not as well versed in musical terminology as you and couldn't pick any of the song characteristics that you just listed in a line up. I was starting to be hooked by the intro and then the "real" song kicked in and I wasn't feeling it. Alot of new music turns me off because the overall sound of it (regardless of contrary lyrical content) seems so f**cking HAPPY. Not that I'm in for doom and gloom but it's also so glossy and slick and upbeat. I want something that has a little grit and soul in it to make me feel like whoever wrote it had no choice but to sit down and pull it out of their soul. I feel that less and less these days... And no, it doesn't always have to be like that. Sometimes it's ok for it to just be mindless fluff that makes me shake my booty. However, if they striving for a certain level of seriousness, then I expect a little more... ooomph. Which is not scientific, technical, or probably even coherent but it's how I feel about it. :-) Hey, you asked!

Permalink posted 10/06/2007
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Anna says I don't like RK much, it has to do with the fact that I don't do well with folk and country (even when they come in subtle tones). Since you don't want us to be kind, I can say that the song you posted does nothing for me. I thought it was a bit boring. Sorry, I mean no offense. I really really really like The Moneymaker though.

Permalink posted 10/07/2007
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dik426 says Don't worry. I'm not offended if you don't like my taste in music. Its just that I know must find you all and rip out 2-4 fingernails! JUST KIDDING(!) Talking about what we like and dislike in music always makes for an interesting discussion unless we turn into a bunch of high schoolers and say things like, "You suck 'cause you don't listen to 'Fiddy'." I don't mean to be offensive here either. But I do find it interesting that I have a comment that thinks the song is "so glossy and slick and upbeat" yet also thinks the beginning of the song, the part with the processed drum beats and funky keyboards is the best part of the song. For me, I'm OK with folk and country 74% of the time, so RK is usually good to me. I didn't like Moneymaker, however. It seemed to me like there was no song in that song. The sound that Jenny makes when she trails off on every line really annoys me, too. BUT, I like all of you! Thanks for commenting!

Permalink posted 10/07/2007
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Anna says *chews her fingernails like crazy* "BUT , I like all of you!" OK, but *who* do you like the best? (me, pick me, BFFE! hahaha)

Permalink posted 10/07/2007
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Anna says (PS Moneymaker = oh so sexy...)

Permalink posted 10/07/2007
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callabriel says A small clarification: I didn't mean that the RK song in particulare was "glossy and slick and upbeat" but that popular music in general is. And yeah, I liked the funky "processed" keyboard/beat/sample at the beginning the best. But then I go in for that kind of thing (love Gnarles Barkley; I think they employ the technique well). I can admit it without shame. On the other hand I have nothing against a more organic sound - Sarah Harmer's You Were Here, comes to mind. I think that record is pretty free of the maximalist production values that are so popular these days. That said... I don't dislike all of it and I'm still a sucker for a catchy tune... calla :D

Permalink posted 10/07/2007
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dik426 says "maximalist" - i'm totally stealing that term. generally speaking, i too dislike the super slick sound especially when it is meant to pass as natural sounding. but i'm of two minds here because i grew up listening to the new wave synth pop sound, and i still think synth pop can sound cool. and i like that sarah harmer album, too. i'm just stealing all of your ideas now! and 'anna-who-thinks-moneymaker-is-sexy' is dead sexy herself. you know what i mean. thats right. too lazy to capitalize, dik426

Permalink posted 10/07/2007