Under the Blacklight, Rilo Kiley's 2007 major-label debut, is surely designed as the Los Angeles quartet's entry into the big leagues, the album that makes them cross over to a mass audience -- or perhaps it's just meant to make their now de facto leader, Jenny Lewis, cross over, since it plays as a sequel to her 2006 solo stab, Rabbit Fur Coat, as much as it plays as the successor to 2004's More Adventurous, putting the former child right out front, bathing in the spotlight. If More Adventurous gave the group's game plan away in its title, so does Under the Blacklight, for if this album is anything, it's a sleazy crawl through L.A. nightlife, teaming with sex and tattered dreams, all illuminated by a dingy black light. So, it's a conceptual album -- which ain't the same thing as a concept album, since there is no story here to tie it together -- and to signify the sex Lewis sings about incessantly on this record, Rilo Kiley have decided to ditch most of their indie pretensions and hazy country leanings in favor of layers of ironic /p>
ew wave disco and spacy flourishes pulled straight out of mid-'80s college rock. Echoes of earlier Rilo Kiley albums (and even Rabbit Fur Coat) are still evident -- the title track is a slow country crawl at its core, the opening "Silver Lining" glides by on a subdued lue-eyed soul groove reminiscent of Cat Power's The Greatest, a move that "15" makes more explicit, while "Dreamworld" plays like an easy listening makeover of prime R.E.M. The latter is the only song here where Blake Sennett, once a co-captain with Lewis, sings lead, confirming that he's now firmly in a subservient role to his former paramour, who dominates this record the way Natalie Merchant used to rule 10,000 Maniacs, leaving the impression that the band is now merely her support group.
This may not be entirely true -- Rilo Kiley still sound like a cohesive band here; Sennett's guitar is often forceful, not meek -- but Under the Blacklight nevertheless plays like a star turn for Lewis, for better or for worse. Better, because she reveals here that she has the charisma to be a star, leading the band through some dicey territory with her vocals, which are easily her best on record. Worse, because she's the one that pushes the band toward sheer silliness through her carnal obsessions, which all come from the cranium, not the crotch. Since Lewis writes about sex at a safe, studied distance -- and even if her vocals are newly throaty, she doesn't sound sexy -- the group overcompensates with stiff disco-funk since that, naturally, is music that signifies bad sex. And there is nothing but bad sex here. There's the tragic girl gets "money for sex" on "Close Call"; there's the implied pornography on the clenched-fist funk of "The Moneymaker"; there's the spoiled virginity of the title character on "15"; finally, there are two descents into the ridiculous with the threesome saga "Dejalo," which is topped only by the wannabe dance craze of "Smoke Detector," where Jenny takes men back to her room to smoke them in bed. That's a lot of cheap, tawdry sex, especially since it all feels affected, not lived in, which may be why Rilo Kiley labor so hard to get this knowing /p>
ew wave disco off the ground, sometimes achieving some trashy fun, other times seeming a little adrift. After so much heavy lifting, it's not entirely a surprise that the band runs out of momentum by the end, letting Under the Blacklight peter out with "The Angels Hung Around" and "Give a Little Love," two songs that play to their former strengths and wind up being more endearing than much of the record. But, by that point, Rilo Kiley have done what they set out to do: they've made a record that leaves their indie rock past in the dust. This may not burn up the charts -- it quite consciously sounds more 1987 than 2007, which may keep some listeners away -- but not a note sounds like the work of a small, precious indie rock band, with the notable exception of "Dreamworld" which, of course, is Sennett's song. The rest of Under the Blacklight feels like the Jenny Lewis show, and even if this album doesn't push Rilo Kiley to the top, it's hard to deny that it feels like the launching pad for her ascent into true stardom.
www.rilokiley.comwww.myspace.com/rilokileyRilo Kiley’s fourth album, Under the Blacklight pops more noticeably than the previous. Simplistic lyrics repeat, forming hooks elevated by polished (and subsequently produced) instrumentals. Audio elitists may shun Blacklight for these reasons alone, however, as a songwriter, my appreciation for this album seems more inclined.Having experienced some ev.
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I saw Rilo in Dallas on saturday. It was effing amazing! I have loved rilo for a long time but I have never seen them live (aside from seeing jenny twice with those twins) Eventhough I am not completely sold on the new album I loved it all live. I lost it when they Played "With arms outstretched" all of my long trips on the road have been accompanied by that song, it gets me every time. The...
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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 exp...
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I have to say that I only recently discovered Rilo Kiley but so far it has been a very pleasant experience. Their music has the ability to not only motivate me to get out the door in time for my daily runs but also keeps me going to my last mile. It's funny how different songs can fit into your life in very different ways. I love another band named Okkervil River but their indie-country vibe...
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Luckily I found myself on South Street this weekend, where Repo was already selling Rilo Kiley's Under the Blacklight. So I had the entire weekend to listen to it. And I did. Until I could sing "Silver Lining" under my breath by heart. It got me through a bad case of the Mondays.Yes, I am slightly obsessive when it comes to music. And cutting my food into small squares. And burning incense as o...
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While most people in the RK livejournal community and on the inde rock blogs are repulsed by the new Rilo Kiley album, which drops tomorrrow, I really like the new CD.When I first heard "Moneymaker" months ago, I thought to myself, "What the fuck is Rilo Kiley doing?!" and "Is that 'Jukebox Hero' they are sampling?" But I was still excited to hear what the rest of the CD had to offer. Then I ...
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MOGstars: 9 out of TenAfter spending several years near the top of the indie tree, Rilo Kiley have dispensed with the cutesy folk of their previous incarnations, turning instead to the super-sexy sounds of new album, _Under the Blacklight_.The record starts in earnest with a stripped back beat and guitar combo, overlapped with the sultry vocals of every indie boy’s pin-up. Second track _Close C.
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To be honest, the success of Rilo Kiley has been pretty bewildering to me up 'til now. Much as I liked Jenny Lewis' country solo album, "Rabbit Fur Coat", I never grasped the appeal of her band. For all her likeable LA snarkiness, their music always sounded like a grey jangle; as if the American mainstream had embraced, what, The Sundays maybe, as the future of music. Quite strange, but in quit...
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so...... i just watched the new rilo kiley video, moneymaker. its 12 minutes long and after 9 minutes of porno interviews..... you get to the actual song. its not up on youtube yet, but i got it from this website "here":http://laist.com/2007/07/03/i_present_you_t.php if anyone wants to check it out. if you get a bit tired of the interviews just forward it to around the 9 minute mark and you get...
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'Silver Lining' is the opening track on the forthcoming RK album 'Under The Blacklight'...and it is wonderful.
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(With apologies to the estate of A.A. Milne for that title...)Like other fellow citizens of the MOG-iverse, I marked six months of contributions, canvassing and gleaning at this most wonderful online mash-up of community, blogspot, and informal music seminar by posting my thoughts on the subject. (http://mog.com/Mike_the_Knife/blog_post/67217) I ruminated about my initial reluctance to particip...
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These lyrics are strangely comforting to me. Just saying them back to myself while Jenn-eee sings them like some scorned horny little elf just makes me feel all warm inside. Odd.And the grass it was a tickingand the sun was on the risei never felt so wickedas when i willed our love to die.Thoughts?
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Some mid-afternoon delight...courtesy of Jenny Lewis and the rest of Rilo Kiley.love it
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Oh man, I've been wanting to throw this out there for a few days, I'm surprised no one else has. If they did and I missed it, I humbly apologize."15"Twenty-five the season off dopeThree sheets to the wind like a clothes line ropeHe's a spider on the webShe's a tiny woman, he could senseHer developing body was just the beginningShe said is anybody out thereShe was bruised like a cherryRipe as a...
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MOGstars: 9 out of TenAfter spending several years near the top of the indie tree, Rilo Kiley have dispensed with the cutesy folk of their previous incarnations, turning instead to the super-sexy sounds of new album, _Under the Blacklight_.The record starts in earnest with a stripped back beat and guitar combo, overlapped with the sultry vocals of every indie boy’s pin-up. Second track _Close C.
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I've been reading 'Candy Girl: A Year In The Life Of An Unlikely Stripper' by Diablo Cody, who was just Oscar-nominated for writing 'Juno.' Like 'Juno,' the memoir is slangy, witty fun. Early on in the book, Cody offers an annotated list of The Ten Best Songs To Strip To. I'm not going to quote all her commentary, but here are the songs: Any hip-swiveling R&B fuckjam. This category includes The...
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This is cool. You can stream the entire new Rilo Kiley album, Under The Blacklight, over at the group's myspace page:http://myspace.com/rilokileySo what are you waiting for?The indie boys all sigh when they see her.
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This is off the upcoming Rilo Kiley album, Under The Black Light, which is due out August 21.Cover art for Under the Blacklight.
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Here's the new Rilo Kiley video for "Silver Lining." What do you think?
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don't worry blake, i wouldn't leave you at the altar. i'd marry you in a heartbeat...
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MySpace Secret Shows is very pleased to present !RILO KILEY!FRIDAYFREE! / All Ages!Doors @ 8:00 PM August 10th, 2007DETAILS BELOWAll Star Lanes4459 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041(323) 254-2579YOU WILL NEED A WRISTBANDINSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO GET A WRISTBANDWritsbands will be avalibe for pick up after 4PM (NO LINE UPS PRIOR TO 3PM) Friday at the Echo (The echo is located at 1822 Sunset Blv...
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i am really liking this.lucy.
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I had heard of Rilo Kiley before, but never really gave them a listen. I finally bought their latest album yesterday when I was browsing for new music at Streetlight Records in Santa Cruz. I was instantly hooked. There are so many styles and genres going on in this album. "Dejalo" has a conspicuous latin pop influence, "Dreamworld" could be mistaken for a Fleetwood Mac song, and "The Moneymaker...
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so...... i just watched the new rilo kiley video, moneymaker. its 12 minutes long and after 9 minutes of porno interviews..... you get to the actual song. its not up on youtube yet, but i got it from this website "here":http://laist.com/2007/07/03/i_present_you_t.php if anyone wants to check it out. if you get a bit tired of the interviews just forward it to around the 9 minute mark and you get...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Silver Lining |
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| 2 Close Call |
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| 3 The Moneymaker |
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| 4 Breakin' Up |
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| 5 Under the Blacklight |
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| 6 Dreamworld |
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| 7 Dejalo |
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| 8 15 |
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| 9 Smoke Detector |
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| 10 The Angels Hung Around |
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| 11 Give a Little Love |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Under the Blacklight")
