Take Offs and Landings

by

Rilo Kiley

Edit

Before I actually review this item let me say something; I may have a slight bias towards Rilo Kiley, as they were my first endeavor into indie music, however, I have no emotion bias towards this album among all the albums they've produced. Now, onto the actual review.

Rilo Kiley is on of the recent big things to hit the indie scene, but this was from their early days, this particular CD being released on Rilo Records originally (They only ever released one other thing on this label-- their EP which underwent several changes in title and was released three times, all with slight variances). Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, All-Time Quarterback) somehow managed to get a hold of this and, impressed, somehow got Rilo Kiley signed to Barsuk (The label to which Death Cab for Cutie is signed to), which brings us up to this record, featuring Rilo as the four-piece outfit of Jenny Lewis (Keyboardist, Guitarist, and Vocalist), Blake Sennet (Guitarist and Vocalist), Dave Rock (Drummer, later replaced by Jason Boesel after an apparent falling-out with the other members) and Pierre de Reeder (Bassist).

This album is a romp through a variety of musical genres, ranging from slow ballad-ish songs such as Small Figures in a Vast Expanse, a song about changing and often failing at it, to almost upbeat songs such as the carry-over song (it's a very modified version of an EP song) Always, a song about nogoodnic boys who always lie. Between the two there is a sprawling land of stylistic variance, with one underlying concept genre. Some of the standout songs on this particular album are Plane Crash in C, Science Vs. Romance, and Pictures of Success, though I couldn't say I didn't enjoy every song for some reason. Below is just a bit of information on the songs I mentioned above.

Plane Crash in C: A song that's actually rather catchy and lovely despite it's sort of slow-pace. A rather interesting trumpet line, too.

Science Vs. Romance: This is, without a doubt, some of the finest work Rilo Kiley has ever done. Though not ridiculous in it's pacing, this offering has a very popish feel to it, with Jenny singing on giving up beliefs in some of her finest pre-The Execution of All Things work.

Pictures of Success: The song that many, including this author, consider to be the crowning achievement on Take Off's and Landings. It's fairly slow for a tiny bit, but then picking up the pace, which only digresses back down to the pace it began at. One of the loveliest songs on this album, and quite possibly of their career (though their new stuff sounds pleasing as well), it contains geniuses lyrics, quite often leaving the listener lost amongst them.

This said, I feel that you should, however, make your own decision and not just rely on one reviewer in the end.