Saddle Creek US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Most bands dream of going to LA and making it in big, but for Rilo Kiley, who are from Los Angeles, they struck gold by turning the attention away from the major metropolis and gazing onto a small, influential scene in Nebraska that centers around Saddle Creek Records. As one of few non-Omaha, Nebraska-based artists to get on the label, they were signed against the odds really. But the pairing couldn't have been better. For the Jenny Lewis-fronted group to have the genius Mike Mogis (who is the record labels go-to producer and a full time member of Bright Eyes) produce this second album of theirs was a stroke of genius. Originally released in 2002, it's now getting a reissue that's limited to only 3000 copies. Given how strong their fanbase is, chances are these won't be standing around for very long and it's a beautiful celebration of one of the hallmarks of indie rock.

Review: Rootsy LA indie darlings Rilo Kiley have reformed to embrace their retrospective best of era, even though it feels just like yesterday that the Jenny Lewis-fronted group were in their early 20s releasing their first albums. The band strongly evoke that late-00s/early-10's golden era of indie/chamber pop and are among the best representatives of that time. 'With The Arms Outstretched' is classic songwriting full of emotional depth. It is blessed to have Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame on backing vocals and it's sure to bring the crowds to floods of tears of joy in the reunion shows. Meanwhile, 'Let Me Back In' has a bit of The Strokes drummer's side project Little Joy about it, with its beautiful arpeggio picking and smoky, noir vocals. Elsewhere, 'A Better Son/Daughter' works around a stripped back Moldy Peaches-esque simplicity, before bubbling up into more of a procession with lyrics you can't help but want to march along to.