After a couple of lesser known albums LA indie rockers Rilo Kiley’s ‘More Adventurous’ album (2004) provided the springboard for a major record deal with Warners. Their subsequent 2007 release ‘Under The Blacklight’ looked like the big time had finally arrived. And then they imploded. Perhaps quirky bands like Rilo Kiley simply aren’t built for commercial exploitation?
Whatever, fans will be delighted with this 17 track retrospective that pulls together nine previously unreleased numbers, a variety of demos, b-sides and previously hard to find tracks. And while some such collections come warts and all, Rkives is easily as good as any of their previous releases.
Central, of course, to the Rilo Kiley sound are the wonderful vocals of Jenny Lewis – all things to all men – an angel, a temptress, a modern day Debbie Harry. And many moments bring Blondie to mind as they might have sounded had they started out in the late 1990s. Edgy, original, and bursting with ideas.
Rilo Kiley were a band who exuded effortless cool and offered a mouth-watering palette of Americana roots – blues, country, and gospel with a 21st century slant. Capable of taking any genre, absorbing it, twisting it, shaping it and delivering it as something totally original was, simply, a gift.
Jenny Lewis’s post Rilo work has been impressive, but with Blake Sennet, Jason Boesel, and Pierre de Reeder, there was a chemistry that was inspired – an eclectic amalgam of influences regurgitated with a rare beauty.
Bold, understated, bombastic and intimate, tragic and triumphant. Rilo Kiley RIP. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)