Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight

Under The Blacklight is Rilo Kiley's fourth and final studio album, a vibrant and polished record that finds the band leaning into sleeker pop textures while still carrying the emotional weight and lyrical sharpness that defined their earlier work. Released in 2007, the album explores themes of desire, disillusionment, and reinvention, all wrapped in a shimmering mix of indie rock, disco-tinged rhythms, and California warmth.

The band brought in an impressive cast of contributors, including Jackson Browne, Alex Greenwald of Phantom Planet, and James Valentine of Maroon 5, each adding subtle depth without overshadowing the dynamic between Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett. The result is an album that feels stylish and cinematic, with standout tracks that balance glossy production with bittersweet storytelling.

Although it marked the end of Rilo Kiley's journey as a band, Under The Blacklight stands as a confident and engaging final chapter, one that showcases their evolution into a group capable of merging pop sophistication with the emotional nuance that made their music resonate so strongly.