Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
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Free Music Notes for Under the Blacklight
Free Music Review: 4-1/2 stars -- Shine on...
Hit: 4 Stars
Although the band Rilo Kiley is mostly made up of former child actors, their names really didn't ring a bell to me. I had never heard of Jenny Lewis before, and the only place I remember Blake Sennett from was Salute Your Shorts (although he went by Blake Soper then). But the reason why it probably took a while for people to notice the band is because they are on Barsuk Records, and it always takes a while for those artists to get the exposure they deserve (ask Death Cab for Cutie). Still, I never would have heard of the band had it not been for some Wikipedia rumor that they were going to perform on the 33rd season premiere of Saturday Night Live after Amy Winehouse pulled out, but I'm sure glad I did.
Under the Blacklight is easily one of the best albums that came out last year. Jenny handles most of the lead vocals, and she handles them well, whether the songs are metaphors ("Silver Lining"; "The Angels Hung Around"), dysfunctional families ("15"), or songs that are just plain good ("Dejalo"; "Give a Little Love"). But Blake also does a good job handling the mic on "Dreamworld".
I knocked off half a star because at the end of the otherwise good "Breakin' Up", Jenny sings that "it feels good to be free" part in an odd tone. But the rest of Under the Blacklight is stellar enough for you to not even care, so pick it up.
Anthony Rupert
Free Music Review: The Silver Lining
Hit: 4 Stars
While watching Logo one night I came across the video for "Silver Lining" and realized I had never heard of Rilo Kiley. That's right they are one of those bands that seemed to have fallen below my radar though they've been together since '98 and the lead singer even released a solo album.
What caught my attention at first made me think they were trying to be a harder version of Tori Amos, but the more I got into "Silver Lining" I realized how cool it was, and the rest of the album Under The Black Light is just as entertaining.
Not as brutal as a full on rock band yet not nearly as eccentric as Tori - they're more of an alternative set of the 80's combining some country-ish hooks with piano laden pop and rock. A bit like Miss Derringer minus the constant old west nods. It's pretty entertaining overall with "The Angels Hung Around" being a fun little highlight but "Silver Lining" is by far the best track.
Free Music Review: Usually a big fan, but . . .
Hit: 2 Stars
First off, I love "The Execution of all Things", really like "Take Offs and Landings", and "More Adventurous" is okay, but this new one is total CRAP! Just Awful. I even own "Rabbit Fur Coat", and both of The Elected's discs, and "Under the Blacklight" is easily the worst of the whole bunch.Free Music Review: Thank you Jenny & Rilo Kiley
Hit: 5 Stars
Having loved their "more adventerous" album, esp. "It's A Hit" and many other greats that offered. Following Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins and hearing "Rise Up With Fists" - I can fully see how "Silver Lining" has developed, awesome guitar work!!! 5/5 now this song should be a "hit".
The album is a lot more pop rock than alternaive but Jenny has a very strong controlled voice she treats us to some "ohhh's and ahhh's" particularly in "Close Call", "Breakin' Up", and "The Angels Hung Around".
Other favourites include: "15", and "Dejalo". All in all the album start to finish is listenable, very rare these days and I am glad to be spending money on artists like Rilo Kiley who don't produce junk, rather they produce quality pop infested tunes. It is a shame that most of their stuff won't get played in Auckland, NZ, however I am hopeful to see them on tour maybe some day and only wish they get more exposure to stadiums but hopefully the pressure doesn't ruin them!! Keep strong Rilo Kiley and thanks for a wonderful new album.
Free Music Review: Spotlight on Blacklight
Hit: 3 Stars
For those of us old enough to remember the shock when Fleetwood Mac made the sonic switch from Mystery to Me to Fleetwood Mac, you may feel Deja Vu if you listened to Rabbit Fur Coat before picking up "Under The Blacklight." While Rilo Kiley are still the same folks, the shift in style is evident from the moment "Silver Lining" does its faux Christine McVie...and sounds dang catchy doing it.
Thus marks the evolution of Rilo Kiley from indie band with some alt-country tendencies to alt-country band that polishes up the pop sheen and dives head first into the mainstream. From the enthusiastic dirty-pop of "The Moneymaker" to the Dusty in Memphis homage "15," this is as peppy a pop album as you're likely to hear. There's some obvious 70-80's nods to Southern California Pop here (Jackson Browne is even listed as a guest), and "Breaking Up" could have been a Rumours left-over. It's inescapably catchy.
What is also inescapable is just how much Rilo Kiley is becoming the Jenny Lewis Band. Blake Sennett only has two writers' credits (with his "Dreamworld" being a standout), where he was usually the co-conspirator on everything. With "Under The Blacklight" keeping so much of its focus on sleazy, dirty sex (Memphis horn embellishment or not, the deflowering of the girl in "15" is a bit disturbing, and "The Moneymaker" is an obvious hooker) and Jenny's voice, it's difficult to up the rating from three stars. Minus Sennett's additional input, album starts to lack lyrical variety. But if better than average SoCal Pop is your bag, "Under The Blacklight" is right up your sleazy back alley.