Rkives (stylized as rkives, pronounced "archives") is a compilation album released in 2013 by Los Angeles–based band Rilo Kiley.
| Rkives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | April 2, 2013 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, alt country, folk, indie pop | |||
| Length | 77:51 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Little Record Company | |||
| Rilo Kiley chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rkives | ||||
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Album history
editFollowing the 2010 announcement of the band's hiatus, drummer Jason Boesel discussed plans for a compilation album, intended for release that year.[1] In 2012, it was confirmed by Pitchfork Media that the B-sides release was nearly finished.[2] The release date for the album was eventually announced as April 2, 2013.
In an interview with BuzzFeed, Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis described the songs that went into the album.
"Every record that I’ve ever been a part of, there are always leftovers—things that don’t work as a part of the whole thing," Lewis says. "Some songs, which may actually be better songs in the long run, get kind of kicked to the side in the process. We scoured our digital hard drives and old 8-track cassette tapes and made this record."[3]
The band reached out to fans for help making a video for "Let Me Back In", inviting fans "to upload your favorite personal Rilo Kiley video clip, band footage, created animation, etc... whatever you have in moving pictures that you'd like to share with us."[4] The video was released via Pitchfork Media on February 19, 2013.[5]
Reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 72/100[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| The A.V. Club | B+[8] |
| Drowned in Sound | 8/10[9] |
| Mojo | [10] |
| MSN Music (Expert Witness) | A[11] |
| Pitchfork | 7.4/10[12] |
| Q | [13] |
| Rolling Stone |  [14] |
| Spin | 8/10[15] |
| Uncut | 6/10[16] |
Spin Magazine gave the compilation an 8 out of 10, saying that "Rkives is not the sorely nonexistent sixth Rilo Kiley album, unfortunately, but as a career-spanning loose-ends wrap-up, it's sure a lot better than the next best thing". Rolling Stone called it a "mostly filler-free set of outtakes, demos and b-sides", and The A.V. Club said that while the album "begins and ends as a “fans only" endeavor [...] the compilation provides an essential supplement to the Rilo Kiley discography".
Songs
editSome of the tracks were used as B-sides to previous singles throughout the band's career, while others are previously unreleased.
Tracks 1–4 and 7–9 were recorded during the Under the Blacklight sessions in 2007. Track 7 appeared as a B-side on the single for "The Moneymaker".[17]
Tracks 5 and 6 were recorded in Lincoln, Nebraska for an unreleased EP.
Tracks 10, 12 and 13 were recorded during the sessions for More Adventurous. Tracks 10 and 12 were available on the "Portions For Foxes" single.[18]
Track 11 is a B-side from the band's 2002 album The Execution of All Things. It was previously available on the single for "The Execution of All Things" (under the title "Emotional (Until Crickets Guide You Back)").
Tracks 14 and 15 were recorded at lead guitarist Blake Sennett's house in Echo Park. Track 14 is a demo version of "Rest of My Life", a song from the band's 2001 record Take Offs and Landings.
Track 16 is from The Initial Friend E.P., Rilo Kiley's out-of-print first release. It appeared on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Desert Blue.[19]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let Me Back In" | Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett | Rilo Kiley, Jason Lader | 4:23 |
| 2. | "It'll Get You There" | Lewis | Rilo Kiley, Jason Lader | 5:02 |
| 3. | "Runnin' Around" | Lewis | Rilo Kiley, Jason Lader | 2:56 |
| 4. | "All the Drugs" | Lewis | Rilo Kiley, Jason Lader | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Bury, Bury, Bury Another" | Lewis | Mike Mogis | 3:29 |
| 6. | "Well, You Left" | Sennett | Mike Mogis | 6:17 |
| 7. | "Draggin' Around" | Lewis | Rilo Kiley, Jason Lader | 3:24 |
| 8. | "I Remember You (feat. Benji Hughes)" | Lewis, Sennett, Hughes | Rilo Kiley, Jason Lader | 4:16 |
| 9. | "Dejalo (Zondo Remix feat. Too $hort)" | Lewis, Johnathan Rice, Too $hort | Rilo Kiley | 3:35 |
| 10. | "A Town Called Luckey (feat. Tim Kasher)" | Lewis, Sennett | Mike Mogis | 6:43 |
| 11. | "Emotional" | Lewis, Sennett, Pierre De Reeder | Mike Mogis | 3:52 |
| 12. | "American Wife" | Lewis | Mike Mogis | 4:36 |
| 13. | "Patiently" | Lewis, Sennett | Mike Mogis | 3:08 |
| 14. | "Rest of My Life (Demo)" | Sennett | Rilo Kiley | 3:52 |
| 15. | "About the Moon (feat. The Watson Twins)" | Lewis, Sennett | Rilo Kiley | 3:09 |
| 16. | "The Frug" | Lewis, Sennett | Sandbox | 2:40 |
- There are two separate hidden tracks not listed in the liner notes. They begin after several minutes of silence. The one on the CD is sung by Jenny Lewis and the one on the LP is sung by Blake Sennett.
Deluxe Edition
editA limited edition of the album was also released that included: 2xLP, CD, MP3/FLAC download, untitled cassette with exclusive unreleased demo tracks available only on that format, Opossum tote bag, stickers, button and poster.
Untitled Rkives Bonus Cassette track listing:
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Close Call (Garage Band Demo)" | |
| 2. | "Pull Me in Tighter (Sunset Sound Demo)" | |
| 3. | "Are You Sad? (Blake's House)" | |
| 4. | "The Good That Won't Come Out (4 Track Demo)" |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "All The Drugs (Garage Band Demo)" | |
| 2. | "Commoner (Wilton House Demo)" | |
| 3. | "That's How I Choose To Remember It (4 Track Demo)" |
Credits
edit- Rilo Kiley
- Jenny Lewis – vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar
- Blake Sennett – guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Pierre de Reeder – bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals
- Jason Boesel – drums, percussion (Tracks 1–14)
- Dave Rock – drums, percussion (Tracks 15–16)
- Additional personnel
- Benji Hughes – guest vocals on track 8
- Too $hort – guest vocals on track 9
- Tim Kasher – guest vocals on track 10
- The Watson Twins – guest vocals on track 15.
References
edit- ^ Callihan, Kristen. "New Jenny Lewis and Rilo Kiley Albums in the Works, says Jason Boesel". Paste Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ Pelly, Jenn (December 28, 2012). "Rilo Kiley Almost Finished Archival Project, Not Releasing Album of New Material". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ Stuart, Tessa (January 22, 2013). "Jenny Lewis: Rilo Kiley Never Broke Up". Buzzfeed. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Brooklyn Vegan". February 20, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Official Site". Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Reviews for Rkives by Rilo Kiley". Metacritic. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rkives – Rilo Kiley". AllMusic. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Adams, Erik (April 2, 2013). "Rilo Kiley: RKives". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Skinner, James (May 3, 2013). "Album Review: Rilo Kiley – rkives". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Rilo Kiley: Rkives". Mojo (235): 102. June 2013.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (April 9, 2013). "Rilo Kiley". MSN Music. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Battan, Carrie (April 4, 2013). "Rilo Kiley: rkives". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rilo Kiley: Rkives". Q (323): 113. June 2013.
- ^ Hermes, Will (May 21, 2013). "RKives". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ Weiss, Dan (April 11, 2013). "Rilo Kiley, 'Rkives' (Little Record Company)". Spin. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Rilo Kiley: Rkives". Uncut (193): 94. June 2013.
- ^ "AllMusic – Draggin' Around". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "AllMusic – Portions For Foxes". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "IMDB – Desert Blue – Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rilo Kiley – Rkives". Discogs.com. April 2, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2019.