Under the Blacklight

After much fighting with my mother and a lot of unneccessary comments I've found (made)t he time to read up a little bit on the new RK album:

Critics all across the board are hating on the new RK sound. The main problem they present is this: Rilo Kiley were once different, good, and special because they were witty and clever. And yes, I admit, their lyrical honesty paired with the puns and clevernesses were quite good. And this new album doesn't obviously feel clever. What they're talking (actually, singing) about isn't disguised enough. It's too... easy. It's all sex sells and eighties throwbacks and something something la la la L. A. something something. Which I'll admit, i'm not really buying. But that's ok.

What I'm more dissapointed about is the general sound. This one is jumpier and/or dancier. Like I could listen to it and do a silly strip tease (as long as I don't pay attention to the depressing subject matter of the lyrics). But it's mostly Jenny Lewis. I think she's a really great singer. Which she's really shown in a couple of songs here and there on previous albums. Of course, every song on a CD can't and shouldn't be showboat and showboat. But just one or two, ya know? None of these songs really do. She's all mid range partial talk voiced. Have you ever heard those new high school punk bands where they simply pick anyone willing to sing and allow them to sing? And it sounds kind of like a whine and kind of like a prolonged conversation, and a lot like a bug in your ear? This is slightly reminiscent of that. But mostly, I think a lot of girls can sing to a certain extent. No all or even most, but a lot can... It sounds like talking in a non abrasive tune. I can sing like that. I'm no Kelly Clarkson American Idol. But I'm not exactly ear peircing.... That's how Jenny Lewis sings these songs... Like this is the best she can do but it's only mediocre. But we all know she can sing better. She's half talk half humming singing.

And that's what dissapointed me. Oh, that and a lot of the songs have the same tone and feel. which can lead to boredom.

But overall I haven't really listened to the CD enough to know for sure. Music is like Art and Literature, the further in you dig the deeper you realize it is. The more you find to love and cherish. Once I know all the words and the proper tunes, only then can I really feel about a song. So... Maybe I'll jump in and in a couple weeks resurface with a completely different feeling.