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Rilo Kiley Biography
Rilo Kiley have built an illustrious career on creating masterful, deeply engrossing albums, the songs balancing an intimate confessional side with a kind of cavalier joie de vive and an increasingly affectionate nod to their Southern Californian musical heritage. The band’s last record, 2004’s More Adventurous, prompted Elvis Costello to praise the “best lyric writing that I've heard in many a day”, Coldplay to invite them on their 2005 arena tour and a plethora of critics to vote them into their annual “best of” lists. Lead singer and songwriter Jenny Lewis’ dexterity for lush power pop, soulful synths and weepy country ballads has won the band a large and dedicated fan base, bolstered by the blistering live shows which match Lewis’ astonishing charisma with singer/guitarist Blake Sennett’s shimmering guitar and the exemplary drum and bass partnership of Jason Boesel and Pierre de Reeder.
Under The Blacklight, their fourth album and their first for Warner Bros, was recorded in Los Angeles in fall/winter 2006 and winter 2007, and is Rilo Kiley at their most robust and dazzling. It comes after an 18 month hiatus during with Sennett released a second album with The Elected, Boesel recorded with Bright Eyes and Lewis released her debut solo album. Lewis, having spent all of 2006 promoting the southern soul-influenced Rabbit Fur Coat, returns to her rock roots with obvious relish; the delicate acoustic harmonies of her solo sojourn have given way to deliciously full-bodied vocals and exuberant songs complemented by rich guitar sounds and opulent production.
On Under The Blacklight, Lewis is fiery and unrestrained, no more so than on “The Moneymaker”. With the blood of Fleetwood Mac, early Heart and The Rolling Stones’ 1978 dancefloor masterpiece “Miss You” pumping through its veins, Under The Blacklight is a gloriously decadent-sounding album, smooth dance beats balanced by the underlying lyrical motifs of the seedier side of Los Angeles life; the characters in the songs embroiled in everything from drunken one night stands to the sex industry. The album’s lyrical theme is of the darker side of life as revealed by a nightclub blacklight, each song’s character sharpened to a precise focus by Lewis’ unique, undeniable approach. Lewis’ penchant for 60’s country music is also represented; “15”, a twisted love story of misplaced ardor, gives us the unique idea of what Bobbie Gentry might have had to say if internet dating had existed in her time. Elsewhere, Sennett dazzles with the sneaking 70’s soul of “Dreamworld”, a song so rich with gold dust that it’s liable to take you back to the days of high school mix tapes, while “Breakin’ Up” is perhaps the perfect encapsulation of what Rilo Kiley is: the song craft of Sennett and the serrated edge of Lewis' lyrics - deceptively catchy and upbeat, the song celebrates leaving a jilted lover in the dust. From opening track “Silver Lining” to closer “Give A Little Love” Lewis’ stunning vocals gives credence to the recent Laura Nyro comparisons bestowed on her by the press. In many ways Under The Blacklight is a classic Californian love child and Rilo Kiley its ardent and vivacious young parents.
Under The Blacklight’s producers are Rilo Kiley & Jason Lader (Vietnam, Jay-Z) and Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Fiona Apple).
Under The Blacklight, their fourth album and their first for Warner Bros, was recorded in Los Angeles in fall/winter 2006 and winter 2007, and is Rilo Kiley at their most robust and dazzling. It comes after an 18 month hiatus during with Sennett released a second album with The Elected, Boesel recorded with Bright Eyes and Lewis released her debut solo album. Lewis, having spent all of 2006 promoting the southern soul-influenced Rabbit Fur Coat, returns to her rock roots with obvious relish; the delicate acoustic harmonies of her solo sojourn have given way to deliciously full-bodied vocals and exuberant songs complemented by rich guitar sounds and opulent production.
On Under The Blacklight, Lewis is fiery and unrestrained, no more so than on “The Moneymaker”. With the blood of Fleetwood Mac, early Heart and The Rolling Stones’ 1978 dancefloor masterpiece “Miss You” pumping through its veins, Under The Blacklight is a gloriously decadent-sounding album, smooth dance beats balanced by the underlying lyrical motifs of the seedier side of Los Angeles life; the characters in the songs embroiled in everything from drunken one night stands to the sex industry. The album’s lyrical theme is of the darker side of life as revealed by a nightclub blacklight, each song’s character sharpened to a precise focus by Lewis’ unique, undeniable approach. Lewis’ penchant for 60’s country music is also represented; “15”, a twisted love story of misplaced ardor, gives us the unique idea of what Bobbie Gentry might have had to say if internet dating had existed in her time. Elsewhere, Sennett dazzles with the sneaking 70’s soul of “Dreamworld”, a song so rich with gold dust that it’s liable to take you back to the days of high school mix tapes, while “Breakin’ Up” is perhaps the perfect encapsulation of what Rilo Kiley is: the song craft of Sennett and the serrated edge of Lewis' lyrics - deceptively catchy and upbeat, the song celebrates leaving a jilted lover in the dust. From opening track “Silver Lining” to closer “Give A Little Love” Lewis’ stunning vocals gives credence to the recent Laura Nyro comparisons bestowed on her by the press. In many ways Under The Blacklight is a classic Californian love child and Rilo Kiley its ardent and vivacious young parents.
Under The Blacklight’s producers are Rilo Kiley & Jason Lader (Vietnam, Jay-Z) and Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Fiona Apple).
Rilo Kiley All Music Guide Biography
Like their West Coast contemporaries Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley steadily gained traction in indie pop circles throughout the late '90s and early 2000s before the record industry (and public at large) officially took note. Led by former child actors Jenny Lewis (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Blake Sennett (guitar, vocals), the L.A.-based quartet held its first practices in 1998. Bassist Pierre de Reeder and drummer Dave Brock (later replaced by ex-Foundation Lassie member Jason Boesel) completed the lineup, and a weekly residency at the Spaceland nightclub in Silverlake allowed Rilo Kiley to hone its mix of classic pop, country, torch song, and folk.
Debut album Take Offs and Landings was released in 2001 by the Seattle-based Barsuk Records, also home to Death Cab for Cutie (whose lead singer, Ben Gibbard, would later enlist Lewis' help on the Postal Service's gold-selling debut). Although Lewis' side projects and star appeal would later make her the focal point of Rilo Kiley, Take Offs is the work of a dually fronted band, with Sennet contributing lead vocals on four tracks. The band supported their debut by hitting the road, during which they were introduced to Omaha native Tim Kasher (Cursive, the Good Life) at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall. Both of Kasher's bands were signed to Omaha's Saddle Creek Records, whose solid roster and promise of creative freedom attracted Rilo Kiley's interest. Although the exclusive label had rarely opened its doors to bands outside of Omaha's city limits, they nevertheless signed Rilo Kiley and released the band's twangy sophomore effort, The Execution of All Things, in October 2002.
After touring with the likes of the Breeders, Pedro the Lion, and Superchunk, the band took some time off to pursue separate projects. Lewis contributed backing vocals to the Postal Service's Give Up, later touring with the band as well, while Sennett and Boesel released their debut album with the Elected. Rilo Kiley reconvened to record 2004's More Adventurous, but creative differences with Saddle Creek resulted in the band's creation of their own label, Brute/Beaute Records (an imprint under the Warner umbrella), for the record's official release. Buoyed by a cohesive sound, several singles, and big-time distribution from Warner Bros., More Adventurous greatly heightened the band's profile. Tours with Coldplay and Bright Eyes followed, and popular song "Portions for Foxes" was featured on the TV drama Grey's Anatomy.
Following the success of their third album, Rilo Kiley took yet another break to focus on personal projects. Boesel toured the world as Bright Eyes' drummer and worked with Sennet to record the Elected's sophomore release, Sun, Sun, Sun, but all efforts paled in comparison to the critical success of Jenny Lewis' solo debut, Rabbit Fur Coat. Released by Team Love Records (co-founded by Lewis' onetime labelmate, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst) and featuring vocal duo the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat charted higher than any Rilo Kiley album to date. Lewis supported the album by touring three times in 2006, earning accolades from such media sources as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and NPR. Nevertheless, Warner Bros. had previously signed Rilo Kiley in the wake of More Adventurous' success, and the group reconvened once again to enjoy the major-label backing they'd worked so hard to achieve. Under the Blacklight, the band's first album on a majors' tab (and fourth full-length overall), was released in August 2007. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
Debut album Take Offs and Landings was released in 2001 by the Seattle-based Barsuk Records, also home to Death Cab for Cutie (whose lead singer, Ben Gibbard, would later enlist Lewis' help on the Postal Service's gold-selling debut). Although Lewis' side projects and star appeal would later make her the focal point of Rilo Kiley, Take Offs is the work of a dually fronted band, with Sennet contributing lead vocals on four tracks. The band supported their debut by hitting the road, during which they were introduced to Omaha native Tim Kasher (Cursive, the Good Life) at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall. Both of Kasher's bands were signed to Omaha's Saddle Creek Records, whose solid roster and promise of creative freedom attracted Rilo Kiley's interest. Although the exclusive label had rarely opened its doors to bands outside of Omaha's city limits, they nevertheless signed Rilo Kiley and released the band's twangy sophomore effort, The Execution of All Things, in October 2002.
After touring with the likes of the Breeders, Pedro the Lion, and Superchunk, the band took some time off to pursue separate projects. Lewis contributed backing vocals to the Postal Service's Give Up, later touring with the band as well, while Sennett and Boesel released their debut album with the Elected. Rilo Kiley reconvened to record 2004's More Adventurous, but creative differences with Saddle Creek resulted in the band's creation of their own label, Brute/Beaute Records (an imprint under the Warner umbrella), for the record's official release. Buoyed by a cohesive sound, several singles, and big-time distribution from Warner Bros., More Adventurous greatly heightened the band's profile. Tours with Coldplay and Bright Eyes followed, and popular song "Portions for Foxes" was featured on the TV drama Grey's Anatomy.
Following the success of their third album, Rilo Kiley took yet another break to focus on personal projects. Boesel toured the world as Bright Eyes' drummer and worked with Sennet to record the Elected's sophomore release, Sun, Sun, Sun, but all efforts paled in comparison to the critical success of Jenny Lewis' solo debut, Rabbit Fur Coat. Released by Team Love Records (co-founded by Lewis' onetime labelmate, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst) and featuring vocal duo the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat charted higher than any Rilo Kiley album to date. Lewis supported the album by touring three times in 2006, earning accolades from such media sources as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and NPR. Nevertheless, Warner Bros. had previously signed Rilo Kiley in the wake of More Adventurous' success, and the group reconvened once again to enjoy the major-label backing they'd worked so hard to achieve. Under the Blacklight, the band's first album on a majors' tab (and fourth full-length overall), was released in August 2007. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
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