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(prescript: THIS ENTRY DID NOT WANT TO BE WRITTEN. I accidentally closed the tab three times...thankfully, had most of it copied all times =\) So, when I first listened to Under The Blacklight, it was during a very nice bath and well, it's good bath music. =P Initial thoughts are that, yes, it isn't exactly what Rilo Kiley's done before, but it does sound like them (at least to me).

Track by track:

Silver Lining: Sounds very Rabbit Fur Coat-esque to me. Except that drum bit at the beginning, it sounds EXACTLY like, you guessed it, a Gwen Stefani song. (Seriously. Fluorescent sounds exactly the same at the beginning). I don't mind this song, it's peppy and happy :)

Close Call: Guitar on it sounds very Modest Mouse to me. I don't like Jenny's voice as much singing higher. She's got such a lovely sexy voice, and don't get me wrong, she can really sing, and she's got the range...but the vocals are too scoopy for me. Again, I like it, but I probably won't get too attached.

The Moneymaker: So everyone and their mother has heard this track by now, no new surprises. When I first heard it, I really didn't like it...but I put it on repeat and fell in love. I really, really like it. It's catchy, and the guitar is SO kickass, and although not lyrically deep, Jenny's vocals really go along with the song. It's a good song and has already made its way onto my playlists for friends =P

Breakin' Up: LOL. (I kinda just want to leave it at that, but I have more to say). It's so poppy and I love poppy songs like this, but it's just...wrong somehow. I think it's in the producing. I can see me singing the "ooh, it feels good to be free" bit to exes turned friends xD. Don't really like those background singers on that bit though. Despite the fact that everyone seems to dislike this song the most...I'm going to end up having this one on repeat. It is so damn catchy and poppy and happy and makes me want to dance around in a field of daisies. Really mixed feelings about this, because, on its own, a very pleasant tune. Considering that it's RK, feeling...let down, I guess. Not a song I'd use to introduce someone to the band.

Under The Blacklight: I don't understand the synth bit of it (intro and outtro). It doesn't go with the song, in my opinion. It's...okay I guess. Kind of a boring song. Again, not one I'm going to remember. I have no idea why the instrument (argh, I know what it is, I'm kicking myself for not being able to think of the name...it comes in at 2:06) is there. Doesn't go with the song!

Dreamworld: LOOOOOOOVE. Then again, I think everyone likes this one best. Reminds me of August, honestly. But more mature and deep. Definitely a good driving track. I want more Blake vocals on this album =\. I wish I had more to say about it, but I just really like this song. The music is perfect for what the song is about. Really easy to get lost to, and it'll definitely be put on repeat many times.

Dejalo: Sounds like something off of Sims: Vacation, I am serious! I appreciate the effort to make something peppy and stuff, but it's just...boring. Bordering on annoying.

15: Hello funk? Totally works for me. I like the song a lot, both as a standalone and as RK. Cannot wait to hear this one live, though...I think it's going to be amazing!

Smoke Detector: Eh. it's going to get stuck in my head, and I won't like it. nothing special. It's a nice little tune and maybe when I'm less tired, I'll want to listen to it, but for now, it's forgettable.

The Angels Hung Around: Reminds me of More Adventurous. It's soft, and I like it, but it's just...the same. I'm really not sure why people are saying the new album isn't Rilo Kiley-ish enough, because to me, it seems VERY RKish. Which is a little disappointing in some ways, I was looking for more variety I guess. I haven't been playing close attention, but I think a lot of these songs are in the same key, which is probably why I'm not finding anything to be standing out. Honestly, if this song were closer to the beginning of the album, I'd probably be raving about it, because I like it...just not after listening to the rest of UTB.

Give a Little Love: Aw, everyone's being mean to this song. I think it is so cute and I could totally do without the fake drums, and echoes, and synth stuff (maybe it isn't synth, but it sounds like it to me). I really think this song will rock live...because it won't just be "JENNY SINGS AND SOME STUFF HAPPENS IN THE BACKGROUND THAT ISNT ACTUALLY CREATED BY ANYONE IN THE BAND". it'll be "HEY LOOK BLAKE AND PIERRE AND JASON AND JENNY ARE UP THERE DOING THEIR THING". Seriously though, cute song, but I do expect more from RK.


Overall...I don't think the album's terrible. I think they could have gone even further outside the box and still had it rock. I really miss vocal harmonies and Jenny's lower-range singing, and Blake's singing. Going to have to listen to B-sides.

Now it is time for me to put on Take Offs and Landings and go to bed.

(postscript: I hope I didn't tag way too much...I really don't write lastfm journals that much and I figured it made sense to tag everything that I did. *shrug*)

EDIT: after listening to it a few times...I can safely say that I really do like the album. It is still very RK to me, just different, and that's good. And I love Close Call now, after listening to it on headphones. there are so many little things on this album that really just get to you on headphones and it is so muuuuch better. go listen to it with headphones, everyone ;P