Rilo Kiley – The Execution of All Things – Review

Rilo Kiley

The Execution of All Things (Saddle Creek)
by Jamie Kiffel

Far away from our city-dwelling crania, between the gray winter air and the street grime stuck in our eyes, is this sound. Part self-examination, part social disillusionment, Rilo Kiley presents unabashedly pretentious young folkrocker commentary on the letdown that our world has apparently become. The music, with French horn, glockenspiel, and vibraphone, among other unusual orchestrals, flow and muse alongside Jenny Lewis’ matter-of-fact, nearly spoken word vocals. The sound is inventive, the writing is collegiately annoyed and tainted with enough education to stain this stuff with artful words. It may be too “coffeehouse reactionary” for many sets of ears, but Rilo Kiley is unquestionably inventive… and unquestionably trying to be.
(PO Box 8554 Omaha, NE 68108)