Aug
31
Rilo Kiley - Under The Black Light
August 31, 2007 |
 Rilo Kiley has reworked their fashion -err I mean sound and are just about ready to release their long awaited major label debut Under The Black Light. I got a hold of a copy a week or so ago and have given it a few spins (is it spinning if its MP3?) . Out of the gate the opening track Silver Lining is a comforting song very much in line with their past work. Jenny Lewis’s twangy and soft tone lift the songs above their mark and the laid back and timely work of the band is in full force.  After the second song its goes downhill. Its as if the album is a mix of 11 singles from different era’s (maybe they should have tried that as a concept). The tracks have almost continuity except for the lack of continuity. Now know fair well that this could be their goal - hipsters are so contrarian - I can appreciate a few of the tracks. And there are a few that have grown on me like Breakin Up with its disco like beat and Blondie like qualities but the album is confused. It isnt really thought out and while in these days of single tracks being more important than a full album I think this one has been way over produced.
I read a comparison to Fleetwood Mac - While I get that comparison I do not concur. Rilo Kiley’s strength is their ability to take seemingly insipid styles and meld them into the uber cool. While I am willing to give this album a fair shake I am having a hard time understanding what and why it is 12 songs together under one title. The track Dreamworld could have been penned by any number of 80’s bands - or with the goal of being picked up by a VW ad exec - the song is pure crap. A 4/4 high school dance track.
Some times an album like this will grow on you. I am hoping that this is the case but after Jenny’s stellar album with The Watson Twins released last year there is a tremendous level of expectation. While I understand that this is not Jenny Lewis with the Rilo Kiley band I wish they had pulled a bit more from the roots and less from the tips. Playing homage to the producers and the A&R execs by creating a polished radion friendly album is one way to gain new fans but its at the expense of alienating some older one.  The track 15 seems very appropriate for it seems not only to be an ironic tale of “ooops, you are how old? ” but turns out that this is the exact age of the people who will love this album. Maybe that is the goal all along…
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