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Under the Blacklight
by
Under the Blacklight Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

  • Summary: After dabbling in solo projects, the band regroups for its fourth album, produced by Jason Lader.

Top Track

Dreamworld
She was the girl with the string around her neck Hanging with the boy who could only give her less It could be more if she learned to never... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Uncut
    100
    Under The Blacklight is by far and away the most accessible album that Rilo Kiley have ever made.
  2. Blender
    90
    Creamy and precise, every coo and arpeggio blows through your ear buds like the ruffle of crisp bills.
  3. Slant Magazine
    80
    Some of these genre shifts work better than others, of course, but the record is so tightly constructed that nothing ever crashes and burns.
  4. Hot Press
    70
    Ahead of their Electric Picnic date, the LA rockers ditch their mainstream sheen on their fourth album.
  5. Dot Music
    60
    Aside from whatever awaits Rilo Kiley if they discover, like Courtney Love before them, that deliberately setting the dial to AOR doesn't guarantee success--is the seam of graceless contrivance. Not just musically--but lyrically.
  6. Stylus Magazine
    50
    The one thing you can't accuse Under the Blacklight of is being boring, but it abides by an either/or sort of mentality that presumes that a complete lack of substance is the only alternative to the kind of music Rilo Kiley and their pals made in 2002.
  7. Urb
    40
    The disc's most memorable moments come in the musical ideas left abandoned. [Sep/Oct 2007, p.130]
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User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 34
  3. Negative: 4 out of 34
  1. EmilyS.
    Jan 22, 2008
    10
    I love all the old albums, but this one takes the cake. So fun, but layered. I like each song more, each time I hear it!
  2. TJW
    Aug 24, 2007
    10
    A lot of people will likely disagree with me, but I really think this is the bands best album. I love the blues influence, and definitely A lot of people will likely disagree with me, but I really think this is the bands best album. I love the blues influence, and definitely hear the Fleetwood Mac influence as well. Really not a bad song on here.… Expand
  4. MaisyM.
    Dec 24, 2007
    9
    Good Album. Pleasant Surprise.More a Jenny Lewis Launching pad than a rilo kiley album however.
  5. JamespeeF.
    Aug 29, 2007
    8
    A pleasant surprise of a record. It left me cold at first but reveals more and more with each listen. If only more records could reveal such A pleasant surprise of a record. It left me cold at first but reveals more and more with each listen. If only more records could reveal such depth -- and under 45 mins!… Collapse
  6. Joe
    Sep 11, 2007
    8
    Mike from Maine just listed the three worst songs on the album and called them the best. Other than those three cheesy songs, it is a very Mike from Maine just listed the three worst songs on the album and called them the best. Other than those three cheesy songs, it is a very enjoyable album.… Expand
  7. DanielC.
    Aug 26, 2007
    6
    I expected a little more from a major label debut. This album has it's high points, but even the strongest material pales in comparison I expected a little more from a major label debut. This album has it's high points, but even the strongest material pales in comparison to the material on the first 3 albums. I recommend giving this one a listen, but be prepared for a lack of interesting guitar work (that we all know Blake is capable of), as well as a different singing style by Jenny Lewis. Standout tracks are: "Silver Lining," "Close Call," "Dreamworld," and "The Angels Hung Around."… Expand
  8. 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 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

See all 34 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Most Discussed Album of 2007

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