Rilo Kiley

Jenny Lewis may like the critical cred that came with recording for indies such as Saddle Creek, but the former child actress (she survived Camp Beverly Hills) clearly wants some adult stardom to pair with the kiddie kind. Blacklight, Rilo Kiley's first official CD for Warner Bros., is a blatantly...

By Michael Roberts

August 30, 2007

Audio By Carbonatix

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Jenny Lewis may like the critical cred that came with recording for indies such as Saddle Creek, but the former child actress (she survived Camp Beverly Hills) clearly wants some adult stardom to pair with the kiddie kind. Blacklight, Rilo Kiley's first official CD for Warner Bros., is a blatantly commercial offering, albeit a retro one. If this was 1977, it'd be a surefire smash. How it'll fare in 2007 is anyone's guess.

Producers Jason Lader and Dr. Dre protegé Mike Elizondo provide a backdrop that's spacious and precise, with an aural warmth that disguises its essential sterility. Musically, meanwhile, Lewis divides her loyalties between the old-school L.A. sound of "Dreamworld" and the studio dance music of "Dejalo." Throughout "The Moneymaker," a disco-driven porn-industry nod, and the underage boink tale "15," Lewis ratchets up her sexuality — and she's never been known for her Sister Bertrille imitations.

The combination is smart but calculating: It feels more like a means to an end than art for art's sake. Critical cred's fine, apparently, but banks won't exchange it for cash.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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