Rilo Kiley
Take Offs and Landings

THE REVIEW

Probably most followers of indie pop made in the USA know Jenny Lewis for her participation in that dazzling pocket masterpiece that was "Give Up" by the Postal Service and for her solo album with the Watson Twins from last year. But not much attention is given to her actual band, Rilo Kiley, a quartet from Los Angeles that debuted in 2001 with this "Take Off And Landings", a CD that can be described as absolutely delightful, right from the first notes of "Go Ahead", almost a folk nursery rhyme for voice and guitar, where Lewis's vocal talent begins to be felt (literally). The following track, "Science Vs. Romance", is more electric, but not too much, a ballad that slowly swells until the guitars ignite, but it's just a moment and then it's back to calm, to the dreamy and well-crafted guitar pop (Rilo's trademark) that also pervades tracks like "Wires And Waves" and especially "Pictures Of Success" (a must in almost all the mixtapes I prepare and listened to obsessively during a past trip to California - perhaps for the atmosphere? Who knows), which, according to me, is the best piece on the album, almost seven minutes in which Jenny's whispered singing is supported by an absolutely measured and perfect jingle-jangle. In short: a perfectly constructed POP! song, as if it had been orchestrated in every detail, complete with a horn section in just the right place. But there's more: there's time for "August", sung by the guitarist, and for another delicate folk tune, the short "Bulletproof", which opens the second part of the record, where the beautiful "Don't Deconstruct" and "Rest Of My Life" stand out, reminiscent of the more country pages of Conor Oberst alias Bright Eyes (let's skip over the somewhat too radio-friendly interlude of "Always").

In conclusion, this remains one of the most successful works of a group that is only now beginning to achieve well-deserved success even in Europe, after signing a major contract with Warner Bros. Get it.