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.
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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 7 April 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 2 April 2024.
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
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