Rkives

Album history

Following the 2010 announcement of the band's hiatus, drummer Jason Boesel discussed plans for a compilation album, intended for release that year. In 2012, it was confirmed by Pitchfork Media that the B-sides release was nearly finished. 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.”

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." The video was released via Pitchfork Media on February 19, 2013.

Reception

Spin Magazine gave the compilation an 8/10, 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

Some 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.

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.

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 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.

Track listing

Credits