Take Offs and Landings
Rilo Kiley · 2001
50 min · 15 tracks · indie rock
A blend of wistful melodies and sharp lyrics encapsulating the confusion of youth and the complexities of relationships.
Top tracks — play these first
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Science vs. Romance — This track epitomizes the band's blend of introspective lyrics and catchy melodies while exploring themes of love and conflict with an engaging rhythm.
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Pictures of Success — With its vivid storytelling and relatable struggles, this song captures the tension between aspirations and reality, showcasing Jenny Lewis's evocative vocal delivery.
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We'll Never Sleep (God Knows We'll Try) — The urgency in its instrumentation mirrors the desperation in the lyrics, reflecting both personal and collective experiences of striving for fulfillment.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting with engaging melodies and lyrical interplay, marking Rilo Kiley's emergence in indie rock.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the following tracks introduce varied tempos and dynamics, creating a sense of ebb and flow.
- Several songs feature dual vocal lines that intertwine, allowing for a conversational quality in the lyrics.
- The album includes multiple variations on themes, such as 'Science vs. Romance' and 'Plane Crash in C', which creates a cohesive thread throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- introspective themes for reflection
- dynamic flow with surprises
- for late-night drives
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer straightforward single tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Take Offs and Landings is Rilo Kiley's debut studio album, released in 2001 after their earlier EPs. At this point, the band was transitioning from a largely unknown indie act to gaining wider recognition in the indie rock scene, establishing their distinct sound and narrative style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Jenny Lewis· The Postal Service· She & Him
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Pictures of Success
The narrative shifts from hopeful ambition to stark realism as it details fleeting moments of joy against a backdrop of disappointment.
This contrast not only highlights the duality of pursuing dreams but also effectively illustrates the underlying tension that permeates the album.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Go Ahead 3:34
- 2 Science vs. Romance 5:43
- 3 Wires and Waves 3:18
- 4 Pictures of Success 6:51
- 5 August 3:18
- 6 Bulletproof 1:57
- 7 Plane Crash in C 5:12
- 8 Variations on a Theme (Science vs. Romance) 0:36
- 9 Small Figures in a Vast Expanse 3:19
- 10 Don't Deconstruct 2:37
- 11 Always 4:00
- 12 We'll Never Sleep (God Knows We'll Try) 2:54
- 13 Rest of My Life 2:10
- 14 Variations on a Theme (Plane Crash in C) 1:35
- 15 Salute My Shorts! (Spectacular Views) 3:35
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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