Lewis and Sennett are former child actors and were introduced to each other by Tara Subkoff, a mutual friend, in 1993. In 2001, original drummer Dave Rock left the band and was replaced by Boesel.
They began their career on Barsuk Records, releasing Take Offs And Landings in 2001. They moved to Omaha-based indie label Saddle Creek for their second album, 2002's The Execution of All Things. But come time for their third release, More Adventurous in 2004, the band left Saddle Creek for Brute/Beaute, a Warner Bros. imprint.
2004 saw a great increase in recognition for the band, as Sennett and Boesel released an album with their band The Elected and Lewis sang backup on Ben Gibbard's (Death Cab For Cutie) indie electronic side project The Postal Service. Lewis toured with The Postal Service before heading out on two tours in support of Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous in the summer and fall of 2004. The album spent late 2004 high on Billboard Magazine's Heatseekers Chart, success only furthered by appearances on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live. The band opened for Bright Eyes on the international leg of Conor Oberst's tour for 2005's i'm wide awake, it's morning. In Fall 2005, Rilo Kiley were the opening act for the North American dates of Coldplay's Twisted Logic Tour.
Lewis released her first solo album in January of 2006, with Leigh and Chandra Watson as Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins. The album, entitled Rabbit Fur Coat, was co-produced by Clifford M Ward and Mike Mogis. Furthermore, The Elected released their second album, sun, sun, sun on the same day as Lewis' album.
The 4th Rilo Kiley LP, Under the Blacklight, was released in August 2007. This has a more pop-influenced sound and received mixed reviews.
The band broke up in 2011 after vague statements made by Blake Sennett comparing the band to a "corpse" and referring to disagreements among members.
Paint's Peeling
Rilo Kiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll drive and close my eyes in Michigan
And I feel nothing, not brave
It's a hard day for breathing again
And the heat is chasing all, all your friends
And their scattered bodies part to the shore again
And I feel nothing, not sane
And although I'm not going back
To the assholes that made me
A perfect display
Of random acts of hopelessness
I wish I could stay here
But I think we're all ready
Think we're all ready
And I feel nothing, not sane
It's a hard day for dreaming again
And although, now that you've seen
Almost all of America
All you can say is
"Where is all the water?"
And the war has been over
For years since you gave up
And last night, where the road had started
And last night, when my hands were choking you
Last night, when the room and your mood was dipping
And last night, when the ropes were pulling you in
You said, "Hey, how could you love me this way?"
You said, "Hey"
But I think we're all ready
Think we're all ready
The song "Paint's Peeling" by Rilo Kiley is a reflection of the internal struggles faced by the singer. It is a poetic representation of the emotional angst that is humanly possible. The opening line, "The paint's peeling off the streets again," perhaps signifies the disintegration of daily life. The second line, "And I'll drive and close my eyes in Michigan," is an attempt to escape this disintegration. The singer seems to say that it is a hard day to breathe and lacks the confidence to face what is in front of them. The third line, "And I feel nothing, not brave," indicates the singer's emotional disconnect with the world around her. It is tough for her to feel anything, and she is unable to muster enough courage to face the world.
In the subsequent lines, the song turns to the feeling of hopelessness that the circumstances have brought. The heat is chasing all of her friends, and their scatted bodies are parting to the shore again. The heat and the disintegration of life are making it hard for her to dream or have any hope of a better future. The line, "And oh, I'm not going back to the assholes that made me a perfect display of random acts of hopelessness," is an assertion of the singer's desire to escape from the toxicity of the people who have made her feel hopeless.
Line by Line Meaning
The paint's peeling off the streets again
The decline of society is becoming apparent once more.
And I'll drive and close my eyes in Michigan
I'll escape and try to distract myself from reality.
And I feel nothing, not brave
I lack the courage to face my problems.
It's a hard day for breathing again
Life feels suffocating and overwhelming.
And the heat is chasing all, all your friends
Your associates are falling apart under pressure.
And their scattered bodies part to the shore again
They're retreating to a safer haven.
And I feel nothing, not sane
My mind is in a state of unbalance and chaos.
It's a hard day for dreaming again
Optimism and faith seem unattainable.
And oh, I'm not going back
I'm not reverting to my past ways anymore.
To the assholes that made me
To the people who mistreated me and caused emotional injury.
A perfect display
An impeccable showcase of immorality.
Of random acts of hopelessness
Of irrational and unpredictable despair.
I wish I could stay here
I wish I could find solace and sanctuary.
But I think we're all ready,
But perhaps we're all prepared for a change.
And oh, now that you've seen
Having gained experience and knowledge,
Almost all of America
nearly all of the country,
All you can say is
you can only inquire,
"Where is all the water?"
"Why is there such a profound sense of thirst and scarcity?"
And the war has been over
The conflict has ended for a long time,
For years since you gave up
Years have gone by since you abandoned the fight.
And last night, where the road had started
And I recollect the beginning of my journey,
Last night, when my hands were choking you
Last night, when I was physically restraining you.
Last night, when the room and your moon was dipping
Last night, when the environment and your mood were both melancholic.
And last night, when the ropes
And last night, when the ties that bind were tightening.
Were pulling you in
Were dragging you towards something sinister.
You said "hey, how could you love me this way?"
You expressed confusion and disbelief towards my affection.
You said "hey"
You called out to me.
But I think we're all ready,
But maybe we're all set for something new.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Blake Sennett, Jenny Diane Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind