Sound: Rilo Kiley’s mix of indie rock and country pop has always been confoundingly slicker and more mainstream-minded than you would expect from an indie label band. Well, now they’re on a major label, and they’ve unabashedly declared their love of radio-ready pop. The names Pat Benatar, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Sheryl Crow and Gwen Stefani jump out at you throughout this odd collection of Top 40-friendly hits and the occasional alt country tune. If Warner Brothers can’t get one, if not all of the first four tracks into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, they’ve missed a golden opportunity.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Breakin’ Up” (Top 20 Songs of 2007 Candidate)
Medium Rotation tracks: “The Moneymaker”; “The Angels Hung Around”; “Close Call”; “Silver Lining”; “Under the Blacklight”
Recommended: Jenny Lewis’ cutting, honest and sexual lyrics give you something to think about as you sing and/or clap along to these well-crafted hits. Under the Blacklight is an odd and disjointed mix of styles, though, that can feel quite scattered at times.
Grade: B

Hear Rilo Kiley in rotation on 3wk.com

Listen to Tracks/Buy Music:
On iTunes
On amazon.com