Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
User Score
6.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 50
  3. Negative: 9 out of 50

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  1. Graeme
    Nov 8, 2007
    2
    I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking... they sold out for this album. I know that people use that term whenever they want, but it fits in this case. I enjoyed all of their previous albums... I even enjoyed Lewis' solo album. But I couldn't force myself to listen through the whole CD. Some people say that their sound is evolving or maturing... that may be true, but I don't like what they have become. Go listen to The Execution of All Things or More Adventurous if you want to hear Rilo Kiley at their best.… Expand
  2. AdamD.
    Aug 27, 2007
    3
    Can something really be terrible if it's terrible on purpose? Rilo Kiley answers in the resounding affirmative on this mind-numbingly inane album. Sounding like the worst possible outcome of a Debbie Harry/Paula Cole mash-up, the band features here some of their most soulless lyrics, spun repetitively on end in a series of johnny-come-lately neo-disco beats that wouldn't have been fresh in 1981, let alone 2007. If this is a sly wink at mainstream flirtation, it's too sly by half, and if it's an actual honest and new artistic endeavor on the band's part, well, heaven help them. Those expecting the soulful depth and witful observation of albums past (including Jenny Lewis' and Blake Sennett's side-project releases) will be sorely disappointed, while anyone actually in the market for trendy, over-produced superficiality will likely be too busy listening to their Kelly Clarksons and Pinks to give this a chance.… Expand
  3. IsidoreD.
    Aug 26, 2007
    0
    It's not innovative. 70's revival is "in", and that's what they are doing here. I love this band, and repsect artist-evolution. This evolution just plain sucks. Someone else here hit the nail on the head. It is not cause they are "different", rather the album, isolated and listened-to abjectively, simply sucks and is totally boring. I could just play some Rick Springfield or Fleetwood Mac. Why do I need to hear them take a stab at it? Sigh.. anybody suggest a band that can sell out AND retain some original ideas? Looks like they join post-Joshua Tree U2 and post Zeppelin Plant.… Expand
  4. DanA.
    Sep 19, 2007
    4
    This sucks bananas. A wonderful band, a terrible album. While i doubt this is the Liz Phairification of Rilo Kiley, it sure sounds like it.
  5. ChrisC
    Aug 23, 2007
    4
    Booooring. Pitchfork accused them of ironically courting mainstream. But this isn't bad because it's more mainstream-ish. It's bad because it's boring and lame.
  6. ChrisE.
    Aug 23, 2007
    4
    Well it's obvoius the good reviews for this major-label debut are all from mainstream media outlets. I've been into Rilo Kiley since 2003, "Take off and landings" "The Execution of all things" "More Adventurous" were so good! And this is just sooo..not. These songs are so mediocre, the polar opposite of why I fell in love with Rilo Kiley in the first place. It's obvious Jenny and the rest of the band have stopped being creative musicians and have now turned into another trendy hipster pseudo-indie band. Jenny Lewis used to make my heart melt, but I can honestly say I've tuned out and I'm over with Rilo Kiley. They have to know these songs are plain and boring...oh well...… Expand
  7. nickc.
    Sep 17, 2007
    3
    I haven't heard any of this band's previous albums, but had heard the name in hip indie mags and off the lips of scenesters ranting and raving about the next big indie girl band. This album sucks. It's not atrocious, it is slightly listenable, but that's it. The lyrics are awful. Yet again we learn that hype is complete bullshit.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. cokemachineglow
    47
    Yes, the beats are big and the sound is mainstream and commercial; however, the band sound restrained and uncomfortable.
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  2. Uncut
    100
    Under The Blacklight is by far and away the most accessible album that Rilo Kiley have ever made.
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  3. Lost At Sea
    94
    Every one of the eleven songs attached to Blacklight is a stunner in purely musical terms.
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