Under the Blacklight

Rilo Kiley’s major-label debut, 2007’s <i>Under the Blacklight</i>, is an unapologetic leap toward pristine and straightforward pop—a vast departure from their heavier indie-rock inclinations shown on 2004’s <i>More Adventurous</i>. Whether they’re channeling Fleetwood Mac’s poppier phase on the breathy “Dreamworld” or boldly bringing in the brass section on the blue-eyed soul jam of “15”, it’s frontwoman Jenny Lewis’ stellar songwriting that stands out. On the jangle-pop title track, for instance, she spins lyrical gold, wryly cooing “even dead men lie in their coffins”.