Track Listing

1. Silver Lining
2. Close Call
3. Moneymaker
4. Breaking Up
5. Black Light
6. Dreamworld
7. De Jalo
8. Fifteen
9. Smoke Detector
10. Angels
11. Give A Little Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29631 in Music
• Released on: 2007-08-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
There had to have been doubts, after Rilo Kiley lead girl Jenny Lewis’ successful solo sojourn with the Watson Twins (2006’s sumptuous, acclaimed Rabbit Fur Coat album), that she would ever come home to roost. There was no obvious need--she was the recognisable face of the band as it was, and had gone on to distil Rilo Kiley’s sharp-witted alt-country pleasantry down to its roots and add an irresistible wholesomeness, the grace of a bygone age. But we find her back fronting Rilo Kiley, if only to prove that she’s an indie diva on the rise and can wear any boot she sees fit. And here, on Under The Blacklight, we find her in sequinned disco boots ("Breakin’ Up" is like something off Bright Eyes’ Digital Ash album if the benchmark were Donna Summer’s back catalogue), 60s girl group heels (the crying out for its own dance "Smoke Detector"), legwarmers ("Dejalo" is a low-light Gloria Estefan/Madonna-esque strut) and the old fashioned tan suede we were used to (the gorgeous "Close Call" should satisfy anyone who fell in love with "It’s a Hit" from their last record). It’s quite a distinct upturn in style for the band who forge on with steely determination, perhaps at the expense of the soft skinned appeal of More Adventurous, but ensuring that there’s enough momentum to see them safe for a few years yet. --James Berry

Q Magazine
'An album filled with gems' 4/5

Uncut
'The coolest thing recorded this year.....a quality album
choc-full of what we used to call hits'
Album Of The Month 5/5

Customer Reviews

A departure for Rilo Kiley
I have been a huge fan of Rilo Kiley for the past few years, ever since hearing the sublime It's a Hit. I loved their slightly dishevelled, college folk/rock stylings.
This album however, well it's as though a different band made it. It's so polished you could see your face in it! The lyrics aren't as punchy, and if it wasn't for Jenny's distinctive angelic vocals, I wouldn't have guessed it was Rilo Kiley at all!.
However... this doesn't mean I don't like it - in fact the opposite is true, I think it's a real pop gem. People are so disparaging of pop music, but that's only because of 'artists' such as Madonna - real pure pop is excellent, and Rilo Kiley prove this on 'Under The Black Light'.
The opener 'Silver Lining' is a dreamy, beautiful intro to the album, I loved it from the minute I heard it. Other highlights for me are the absolutely fantastic Smoke Detector (how can other reviewers not like it?!) - which has a 60s surfy style to it, and is so catchy, you'll be singing and clapping along to it...
I was also pleasantly surprised by 'Dreamworld' as I hated Blake's vocals on 'August' on the last album. It's got a Fleetwood Mac-esque sound to it, which is no bad thing, as they produced some fine pop music.
I don't hate any of the tracks on UTBL, although am not a big fan of Moneymaker, it's just a bit too slow & dreary for my liking!
All in all, I'd say it's a solid effort, and a good addition to any Rilo Kiley fan's collection... I had to give it 4 stars though, as it just isn't quite in the same league as More Adventurous.

Surprisingly enjoyable.
Given the backlash from long-term Rilo Kiley fans, and a number of disappointing returns from bands and singers that I like recently, I felt a slight air of apprehension towards this album. It is with great relief that I find it to be an enjoyable and fun listen.

Much of what has been said about it is true - a lot of the lyrics have been "dumbed down" when compared to some of their earlier work, and yes their sound has changed. But what people seem to forget is that Rilo Kiley have changed their sound with every album. From the low-fi indie-pop of Take Offs & Landings to the more accomplished indie sound of Execution, through to the beautiful and under-stated folky-indie-pop of More Adventurous. Add in the countryesque influence of Jenny's solo album and the retro sound of The Elected (Blake's other band), and you have a creative force that is always on the move stylistically.

This album is definitely the closest to a mainstream pop sound that the band have ever toyed with, yet it still has substance and you can hear a number of their musical roots throughout it. "Give A Little Love" wouldn't have sounded out of place on their earlier EPs with its heavily synthesised backing, whilst title-track "Under The Blacklight" would have sounded at home on Jenny's solo album. Although the vocal on new single "Silver Lining" is performed by Jenny, it still sounds like it could have appeared on The Elected's last album, and "The Angels Hung Around" could just as easily have appeared on More Adventurous.

Provided you approach this album with no preconceptions of what a Rilo Kiley album "should" be, I think you'll enjoy it. To me it will never be up there with my personal favourite "More Adventurous"; many would argue that it doesn't compare with their first two albums. But that's kind of the point - it is the incomparability that makes each Rilo Kiley album an independent and worthwhile body of songs.

One final note - this is an album that should be heard live. Even the somewhat dire album low-point "Déjalo" sounds great in a live setting, and the band are absolutely on top form at the moment as a live act.

Q were right and wrong
I read the review that Q published...I bought it on spec and admit I have played it a lot ever since... Some great songs but I do disagree when they compared it to Steely Dan's Can't Buy A Thrill. The Dan this is not! But shades of Blondie, country and pop ...really catchy infectious songs. Certainly makes me want to explore more of the back catalogue.