Rilo Kiley – Rkives (Little Record Company/ April 2 2013)

By Iain Orkisz

Rarities compilations aren’t meant for the casual listener. This degree of lucky dip for the first time listener is reserved for ‘best of’ and ‘hits’ collections. Of course many venture no further than aforementioned easy-pickings discs, which is a shame. On the other hand, bands collating lesser known tracks (usually B-sides and obscure covers) can be judged as a hindrance in appealing solely to the hardcore followers. The Manic Street Preachers 2003 release Lipstick Traces is a fantastic example of one of the more imaginative collections of this nature, though in truth this was partly a response to criticisms from their turgid hits collection.

In the case of Rilo Kiley, this band were never destined to shell greatest hits collections by the bucketload, and thus have understandably hedged their bets and taken the more adventurous option of releasing Rkives, sifting through their back catalogue for less celebrated tracks. What this does represent is a reminder of Jenny Lewis and her edgier side before her more accessible efforts with the Watson Twins, whom feature on a small number of tracks.