Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight

Rilo Kiley
Under the Blacklight
Warner Bros.
Grade: A-

Following a several year span between albums, the previous being the fantastic More Adventurous, the smart LA indie rockers Rilo Kiley are back with their biggest release to date, Under the Blacklight. Considerably more consistent than previous efforts, Rilo Kiley have shed the cutesy indie rock for the powerful, in-full-force rock. Sit back and let it sink in.

Surely many wondered whether Rilo Kiley would ever get to releasing a new album given the number of side projects and new endeavors the four members have been engaged in over the past few years. Besides from the various guest spots and helpers by Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel, particularly with the Saddle Creek crowd, Lewis and Sennett launched and relaunched solo endeavors. For Lewis, it was her countrified indie rock album Rabbit Fur Coat under the moniker Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins; and for Sennett, it was another offering by his The Elected with the fabulous Sun, Sun, Sun. Though not the musical direction of Rabbit Fur Coat, many claimed that Lewis was missing the magic provided by Sennett’s guitar, while many noted of the benefit for Lewis’ pipes for Sennett’s success. Regardless, the band are now back with a true rock album, and fans of Rilo Kiley and the various spin offs are satiated.

Produced by the band with assistance from Jason Lader and Mike Elizondo, a strict majority of the eleven songs on Under the Blacklight come from the pen of Lewis. Whatever the initial creation, clearly the songs were filled out and made realized by the whole collective. Of note, Lewis has stated in various pr work for the album that she consciously tried to avoid the cooing and cutesy voice that had distinguished her previous songs. That sound is not devoid, but it is minimized for a wider vocal range and spectrum. Under the Blacklight starts off on “Silver Lining” with bass drum and handclaps before Sennett’s guitar gives way to Lewis’ soft vocals. Armed with female backing vocals on the chorus, “Silver Lining” is a strong number though it doesn’t win you over as a pure stand alone. “Close Call” sounds like a 10,000 Maniacs’ number save for more pop and catchiness coupled with Lewis’ voice. The Lewis-Sennett written “The Moneymaker” is a simmering rocker charged with aggression and intensity, with a terrific quasi-chorus. As the first true stand alone of Under the Blacklight, “Breakin’ Up” immediately grabs your attention with the inclusion of electronics in the opening. This leads way to a standard minimal song structure that soon breaks through to the mind tattooing bridge ‘ooh, yeah, feels good to be free.’ The title track follows and provides a strong hold as a straight forward rocker before the listener is greeted with the Sennett-led “Dreamworld.” “Dreamworld” is reminiscent of much of Sennett’s work with the Elected except for the Americana angle and is massive improvement over his limited vocal offerings on More Adventurous. Lewis teamed up with Johnathan Rice for the Latin-themed “Dejalo” and is rather funky in an island-type manner. The lyrics to “15” are somewhat off-putting but the rocking going on is ear catching and will completely hook you. The super hot “Smoke Detector” follows and may cause a dance revolution with the phrase ‘I do the smoke detector’ or ‘[] does the smoke detector.’ In terms of purely fun songs, “Smoke Detector” is high fair. Under the Blacklight closes on the two sweeping numbers “The Angels Hung Around” and “Give a Little Love.” “The Angels Hung Around” features an acoustic, countrified angle and launches into an amazing chorus that simply makes you feel good. “Give a Little Love” begins like a recent electro Madonna song before settling in to a strong ending.

Without doubt Under the Blacklight is the deepest and most developed albums in Rilo Kiley’s history. Thankfully it is also entertaining, interesting, and catchy. These elements combine for an appealing sound on so many levels.