Rilo Kiley

Under the Blacklight - Warner Brothers Unlike many child actors, Jenny Lewis, from the rock group Rilo Kiley, has not stepped a foot in rehab or has ever been featured in a scandal sheet. Lewis played Lucille Ball's granddaughter in the comic actress' last sitcom, Life With Lucy. After Lewis' three strong Rilo Kiley records and last year's very popular solo outing with the Watson Twins, many fans were looking forward to her coming back into her band and picking up where she left off. Unfortunately, the band's major label debut, Under the Blacklight, sounds a bit like it was tossed together with haste. It could be chalked up to Warner Brothers wanting to cash in on the popularity of Rabbit Fur Coat (the record with the Watson Twins). The songs on this album lack the trademark hooks that Rilo Kiley is known for. In fact, this record, one I have been looking forward to for years, is, well… kinda lame. Gone for the time being is the lyrical introspection that Lewis is known for. The song "15" has an R&B groove with horns and Steve Cropper-style guitar work, but the song itself is just plain weak. "Smoke Detector" talks about smoking in bars and in bed, not much said. I am not going write off Rilo Kiley just yet. Under the Blacklight may be just a bump in the road, and after a bit of breathing room, I feel like Lewis and her bandmates will get their groove on. If not, it may take an arrest to sell some records. After all, it didn't hurt that other Lewis: Jerry Lee. ¦