Rilo Kiley are marketing their newest release, rkives, as a nostalgic collage of murmuring memories, chronicling the band's progress and evolution. Presented as a "B-sides and Rarities Collection" the (mostly) refined tunes on the record (largely) contradict the idea that such collections consist of inferior curiosities to be pawned off on die-hard fans.
Whether longtime or casual listeners, many may ask themselves why this "B-sides and Rarities Collection" even exists. Why weren't half of these songs on albums? Who decided these tracks were expendable? The record's first few "rarities" are tight little gems, significantly better than some tracks found on "legitimate" Rilo Kiley albums. If the collection's alt-bluegrass opener "Let Me Back In" is good enough to receive music video treatment why wasn't it good enough to be replace some of the chintzier songs on earlier works? And why did a band whose last release was in 2007 choose to return in this way? Has frontwoman Jenny Lewis been too busy with side projects to continue with her most famed vehicle in a serious manner?
The collection loses traction by the time it reaches Zondo's "Dejalo" remix (featuring awkward in-da-club cliches courtesy of guest rapper Too $hort). Though it redeems itself with the varied textures of "Town Called Luckey" and rockers "Emotional" and "Patiently," it never reclaims the strength of its initial plunge. Songs featuring guitarist Blake Sennett's voice generally seem too precious when compared to his fellow all-grown-up-child-TV-star's soulful weariness and acerbic vocal stabs.
Ending the sixteen track collection with a bitterly comic twist, rkives perhaps is more geared toward nostalgia and fan-appeasing than it is toward consistent artistry. After the quality back-to-back run of "Let Me Back In," "It'll Get You There" and "Runnin' Around," and the cracked folk brokenness of "Bury Bury Bury Another" the record is only intermittently memorable. It does, however, remind listeners of what Jenny Lewis and company are capable of when they aren't slacking off.
Grade: B
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