Execution of All Things

Rilo Kiley: Blake Sennett (vocals, guitar); Jenny Lewis (vocals, bass); Amy Huffman (violin); Gretta Cohn (cello); Rick Ricker (French horn); Jason Boesel (drums); Kristen Bailey (saw).
On Rilo Kiley's second album, they move beyond the meat-and-potatoes arrangements of 2001's TAKE OFFS AND LANDINGS, adding splashes of electronics and tasteful touches of strings and winds. The structure of the band's songs takes a step forward as well. Where their first album revolved largely around a blend of sprightly indie-pop and a sunny folk-rock sensibility, THE EXECUTION OF ALL THINGS widens the playing field considerably.
Jenny Lewis's vocals, full of breezy innocence on the band's debut album, adopt a darker tone here, bespeaking all manner of disturbing emotions lurking just below the surface. On tracks like "A Better Son/Daughter," her voice is enriched by effects that add a distancing quality, further enhancing the feeling of a band setting out for new territory. That said, there's still a fair amount of gentle guitar picking and winsome melodies on display here, maintaining just the right balance between comfort and invention.