The mix between 70’s rock and 80’s synthesizer effects make up the backbone of Rilo Kiley’s fourth album, “Under the Blacklights.”
The album opener, “Silver Lining,” showcases singer Jenny Lewis’ turn from a careful, pop vocal delivery to a more mature, raspy sound akin to Stevie Nicks. The second track, “Close Call,” could also draw comparisons to Nicks’ voice and also includes an intro guitar parts similar to early Eagles’ albums.
The current single, “Moneymaker,” veers away from Rilo Kiley’s early recordings that were geared closer to a folk or alt-country sound. This song contains a thumping bass line and slick guitar parts. Upon introduction, this single might confuse longtime fans as to what direction the band is going, but if you listen to “Moneymaker” with the rest of the album, the theme is more clear.
Primary songwriter Lewis was inspired by childhood in the San Fernando Valley, which is known for the copious amounts of adult films shot there. Lines like, “shake your moneymaker,” or songs such as “15” that tell the story of a teenage girl who was “bruised like a cherry, ripe like a peach,” seem fitting considering the locale that inspired many tracks on the album.
Other notable influences pop up on the track, “Dejalo,” where the chorus is in Spanish and the touch of mambo could get hips to move.
“Dreamworld,” written by guitarist Blake Sennet, features shared vocal duties between Lewis and himself. The song includes musical arrangements that sound like Starflyer 59 or The Cure.
Backup vocals on “15” give the album a moving Gospel sensibility to add to the list of the musical menagerie on the record.
On might think that Rilo Kiley did not know where they were going with this, the influences are so different, but the end product was clear and concise.
The group’s first major label album with Warner Bros. shows the group at a point of maturation and an exciting foray into a direction that is complete from beginning to end.

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