Rilo Kiley regroups under "Blacklight"

By Jill Menze

NEW YORK (Billboard) - After a year-plus hiatus during which Rilo Kiley's two principal members pursued solo careers, the Los Angeles-based indie pop quartet is returning to business August 21 with its major-label debut, "Under the Blacklight." Well, sort of.

"People keep calling it our 'major-label debut,' but I think (2004's) 'More Adventurous' was that," frontwoman Jenny Lewis says. And in some respects, she's right. "Blacklight" marks Rilo Kiley's first effort on Warner Bros. proper, whereas "More Adventurous" was released on the band's own Brute/Beaute imprint before the major "upstreamed" it.

However you tag it, "More Adventurous," the band's third full-length release, is its biggest to date. It has sold 177,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and cracked the Billboard 200 at No. 161.

Just as noteworthy was the success Lewis met with her solo debut, the country- and soul-flavored "Rabbit Fur Coat." Recorded with the Watson Twins and released on pal Conor Oberst's indie label Team Love in January 2006, the album has shifted 112,000 and peaked at No. 88 on the Billboard 200.

Guitarist Blake Sennett's work with his side band the Elected also has stoked awareness of Rilo Kiley, even while the band was not working together.

On its recordings, Rilo Kiley -- which is Lewis (vocals/guitar/keyboard), Sennett (vocals/guitar), Pierre de Reeder (bass) and Jason Boesel (drums) -- has remained chiefly within its lo-fi, hook-driven pop confines, occasionally dipping into fuzzed-out guitar numbers or acoustic-based folk tunes.

On "Blacklight," there are hints of what Rilo Kiley excelled at in the past, but fans will find a few surprises as well.

The album touches on everything from glistening disco ("Breakin' Up") to Spanish-sung choruses ("Dejalo") and '60s-inspired surf vibes ("Smoke Detector"). Lyrically, much of the material is devoted to Hollywood's dark underworld, with Lewis referencing topics like the porn industry and cyber dating.