Rilo Kiley – Take Offs And Landings (2xLP)

Take Offs and Landings is Rilo Kiley’s charming debut—a heartfelt and intimate collection of songs that introduce Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett as compelling storytellers. Their sparse, indie-pop approach is endearing; the duo navigates early-twenty-something uncertainty with genuine vulnerability, painting everyday struggles in beautifully melancholic sounds. It’s an earnest announcement of arrival rather than a polished statement, a record brimming with youthful uncertainty and the raw beginnings of a distinctive voice.

Though comparatively understated, the album hints at the band’s future brilliance. Lewis’s emotive vocals and Sennett’s reflective melodies intertwine to reveal a melting pot of indie rock styles, each track gently building toward the sound the band would later perfect. It may not be Rilo Kiley’s most cohesive work, but it’s a sincere and promising foundation that resonates with anyone navigating longing, insecurity, and the messy act of growing up.

Reviews

"No, the numbers most strong like the magnificent French-horn-laden waltz of ‘Don’t Deconstruct’ are the sound of a young band consolidating." – AllMusic

"Take Offs turns out to be a record about stubbornly striving to have stability while being clueless on how to find it, not knowing what you're doing or who you are yet." – Paste Magazine

"Rilo Kiley's Take Offs and Landings is now seen as an undeniable classic ... it handily uses indie pop to convey candid and often devastating observations about longing, insecurities, and the uncertainties of young adulthood." – Pitchfork