The Execution of All Things

Infobox Album | Name = The Execution of All Things
Type = Album
Artist = Rilo Kiley


Released = October 1, 2002
Recorded = March 2002
Genre =Indie rock
Length = 47:34
Label = Saddle Creek
Producer = Mike Mogis
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:o227gjvr46iw link]
*"Crawdaddy!" (favorable) [http://crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com/Article.aspx?id=2000 2007]
* Pitchfork Media (7.5/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21354-the-execution-of-all-things link] | Last album = "Take-Offs and Landings" (2001)
This album = "The Execution of All Things" (2002)
Next album = "More Adventurous" (2004)

"The Execution of All Things" is the second full length album released by Los Angeles-based indie rock band Rilo Kiley. Expanding on their previous musical sound that mostly incorporated guitars, vocals, percussion and pianos, "Execution" contains heavy electronica sampling mixed into the songs in a rather unusual and displaced-sounding way. Also, unlike their previous tracks which were written in very traditional manners, the lyrics to the songs on "Execution" are very wordy and read like prose. Musically, the record has a very sunny disposition, with bouncing bass lines and simple melodies complemented by Lewis' vocal style, but the upbeat music is generally counterpointed by the often dark and morose subject matter that the lyrics reference. The album was recorded at Saddle Creek Records in Omaha, Nebraska, and the aforementioned features show the influence of that studio's associated Omaha Sound.

The album is also strung together by a song that is broken into pieces and that trails between several tracks. Called "And That's How I Choose to Remember It," it tells the story of lead singer Jenny Lewis' childhood and her parents' divorce. This theme is visited throughout the album, which is lyrically filled with childhood recollections of loss, displacement, anger, and hopelessness.

The songs "So Long" and "Three Hopeful Thoughts" feature lead vocals by Blake Sennett. Lewis sings lead on all other tracks.

This album is the 47th release of Saddle Creek Records.

Track listing

All songs written by Lewis and Sennett except where noted.
# "The Good That Won't Come Out" – 4:31
# "Paint's Peeling" – 3:20
# "The Execution of All Things" (Boyer, Lewis, Sennett) – 4:13
# "So Long" – 5:27
# "Capturing Moods" – 3:35
# "A Better Son/Daughter" – 4:39
# "Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight That Surrounds You" – 3:20
# "My Slumbering Heart" – 5:36
# "Three Hopeful Thoughts" – 2:50
# "With Arms Outstretched" – 3:43
# "Spectacular Views" – 6:20

Additional musicians

*Amy Huffman - violin on "The Execution of All Things" and "Capturing Moods"
*Gretta Cohn - cello on "The Execution of All Things" and "Capturing Moods"
*Jiha Lee - flute on "Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight that Surrounds You"
*Kristen Bailey - saw on "And That's How I Choose to Remember It"
*Mike Mogis - pedal steel, guitar, vibraphone, and glockenspiel on "The Good That Won't Come Out," pedal steel on "Paint's Peeling," pedal steel and vibraphone on "Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight that Surrounds You," banjo on "And That's How I Choose to Remember It"
*Rick Ricker - French horn on "Capturing Moods" and "My Slumbering Heart"
*Ryan Fox - saxophone on "The Good That Won't Come Out"
*Tim Kasher - accordion on "So Long"
*Boy Choir on "With Arms Outstretched" - Blake Sennett, Jason Boesel, Conor Oberst, and A.J. Mogis

External links

* [http://www.rilokiley.com Rilo Kiley official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/rilokiley Rilo Kiley] on MySpace
* [http://www.saddle-creek.com Saddle Creek Records]