Review: Rilo Kiley’s “More Adventurous” remains their most adventurous

 


I first connected with Rilo Kiley’s music after hearing “Portions for Foxes” on “Grey’s Anatomy.” It made me want to check out its parent album, the band’s third overall. Rilo Kiley released “More Adventurous” on Aug. 17, 2004 as their major label debut.


Opener "It's a Hit" runs through all of frontwoman Jenny Lewis's frustrations with mainstream culture, including politics, writer's block and religion. As the song goes on and Lewis covers more topics, it evolves from a simple rock song to implement a horn section. It evokes a marching band when coupled with Jason Boesel’s drumming. 


"Does He Love You?" details a years-long marital affair from the mistress's perspective, building up the stakes to crescendo in an orchestral coda. The aforementioned “Portions for Foxes" sees Lewis release all of pent-up emotions in a one night stand, but the standout here is lead guitarist Blake Sennett, whose playing gives the song its backbone.


"Ripchord" lets Sennett take the mic to mourn singer-songwriter and friend Elliot Smith. Smith died in 2003 while the album was being recorded. “I Never” stands out more on repeated listens with its doo-wop chord progression, strings and Lewis’s heartfelt vocal performance. 


"The Absence of God" sees the band get existential to an acoustic guitar and seek guidance from those around them. "Accidntel Deth" seems to deal with an accidental miscarriage, with the acoustic guitar joined this time by keyboards and pounding percussion. 


The country-leaning title track finds Lewis desperate for true love, even without marriage. "Love and War (11/11/46)" recalls said date from the point of view of a war veteran and their grandchild, who must bear witness to their present-day PTSD. The guitar sounds less refined here, giving the sound a rougher edge.


"A Man/Me/Then Jim" shifts between the perspectives of Jim's high school friend, an unnamed narrator who converses with a saleswoman whose husband is leaving her (perhaps the wife from track 2?), and Jim himself, who kills himself after being rejected by his ex Dianna.


"It Just Is" closes the album on a somber note, as it shows how Lewis is dealing with Elliot Smith's death. By this point, the influence Smith had on the members of Rilo Kiley is incredibly evident.


Overall, “More Adventurous” continues Rilo Kiley's streak of dealing with mature themes in creative ways, arguably to greater success than in their previous two outings.

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