Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight

So, my new friend Daniel and I have very similar music taste - we share affinities for a group of artists as diverse as Bjork, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Peaches. I've heard his iPod on random and I don't think I've met anyone in Missouri whose music-taste equation so closely matches mine. So when he told me to check out Rilo Kiley I knew I should give it a shot. But I was skeptical.

Honestly, going into it I expected to hate it. Most of the time, over-hyped L.A. scenesters in D.I.Y-indie acts gone major label make me cringe. But this time, I couldn't have been more wrong! This is easily one of the year's best albums. Jenny Lewis has the voice of a rough-around-the-edges angel. But the best part of the album is the songwriting. The hooks and melodies stick in your head for days. Not to mention the production and mixing are nearly flawless, without sounding over-produced.

They are completely their own thing, but comparisons can definitely be drawn to a variety of influences. On first listen, they sound like a modern-day Fleetwood Mac (as Daniel put it). But subsequent listens have reminded me of Jewel (Jenny's vocals on "Breakin' Up" particularly), Modest Mouse, Deep Dish's George Is On album, 1995 chick-rock-alternative and dashes of alt-country and soul weaved in throughout.

The whole album is great from beginning to end, but I of course have some favorites: "Under the Blacklight," "Silver Lining," "Close Call," "15" and "Dreamworld." The title track, "Under the Blacklight" has me particularly captivated. Jenny's vocals shine the most on this track and I think it has the best melodies of the album. That track has completely won my heart -lately, I've been singing it quietly to myself all day long!

It takes a powerful album to pull my attention away from electronic dance music... but this one does it!