Rilo Kiley Album: “Take Offs and Landings”

Bands like Rilo Kiley depress me. I mean, here is a band that has so much going for them, yet you just have to wonder where their place is in a music scene dominated by 15-year-old debutants, corporatized gangsta rappers and second generation Pearl Jam ripoffs. I love this band more than I can convey in words and yet I gotta ask what is in it for them? A couple indie releases and then what?

Having said that, there is no reason why you shouldn't order this album immediately. This is one of the few CDs that has totally impressed me in ages. These guys are already at the top of their game, and seeing them live recently just reinforced my admiration for all they have accomplished. They are truly rock stars in their own right, and it is just a darn shame that they are selling out the Troubadour when they should be selling out the Hollywood Bowl.

How Jenny and Blake remain optimistic enough to produce such beautiful and unaffected music is a testament to their talent and intelligence. Let's hope they receive some encouragement with their next release, because music like this deserves to be celebrated.

After randomly hearing one Rilo Kiley song, I decided to buy the CD to check them out. I have to say that this is by far one of the best albums of 2001! Much of the music that is being produced lately all sounds the same, so it is nice to have something fresh. The melodies work well with the twisting lyrics, and Jenny and Blake's voices are so passionate, that you can't help but become wrapped up in it all. I only wish I can catch their live show now.

got the album about 2 months ago. can't stop listening to it. just saw them for the first time at the knitting factory LA. they blew me away. from quiet acustic whispers to roaring fuzz, sometimes in the same song, this band exemplifies the sound and spirit of the indie rock movement that came to the fore in the early 90's. but it's no rehash. it's all new, exiting, and fresh. call it superchunk meets uncle tupelo meets liz phair meets tortoise meets pell mell meets throwing muses. in a world dominated by pre-packaged teen sensations and weak metal/rap hybrids with no musical ability and nothing to say, rilo kiley is a breath of fresh air and then some. quirky lyrics, infectious melodies, and the ability to pack an emotional punch make this one of the freshest, most interesting recordings to come down my musical pike in a while. buy it and enjoy

This is my personal favorite of all of Rilo Kiley's work to date. I started off with Jenny Lewis' solo album, "Rabbit Fur Coat", before moving on to Rilo Kiley discs. This album consists of indie pop melodies that are softer than the rock anthems in their later offerings, and these songs offer more surprises and addictively catchy hooks that will stay with you throughout the day.

Although the critics didn't receive this album as well as "More Adventurous" or "The Execution of All Things", I believe that this format plays more favorably to Jenny's vocals and is much more accessible than the later cds for first time listeners. If you are unfamiliar with Jenny, be prepared for a biting sarcasm and wit that is truly unparalleled. On this disc, she shows off her dynamic range as the songs often start out simply with Jenny taking more of a conversational approach, only to end in a powerful chorus that Jenny brings home.

If you're not into "indie pop", this is a good introduction as well. The tunes are as catchy as anything you'll hear on the radio, without the same degree of "over-the-topness"; after one listen you may not think much of it, but by the second time through, you'll be humming Rilo Kiley in your sleep.

Rilo Kiley's success lies not only in catchy indie rock melodies, but in Jenny Lewis as a vocalist. Her sweet voice confuses you over the method of her delivery, singing frequently wry, witty, off-beat and occasionally profane reflections on various modern topics, and giving them all a judicious spin. There's nothing ground-shattering about any of it, but there's an undeniable hook in virtually every song that pushes it above what is the standard.

"Picture of Success" is an obvious standout, and frequent fan favorite, but there's also "Science vs. Romance" and "Go Ahead," all three immediate winners of their niche. It does run a bit too long for its own good, with most of the lesser tracks coming on the second half, but it's better to have too much good than too little. Fans of their newer stuff may be surprised at how spare and elegiac some of these songs come off, but it's difficult to be bored by lovely compositions, even if a few of them suffer from clunky songwriting.

Best cuts: "Picture of Success," "Science vs. Romance," "August," "Go Ahead," "Always," "Don't Deconstruct," "Plane Crash in C," "Rest of My Life," "Bulletproof"