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.
Wires and Waves
Rilo Kiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You called to say you're sorry in your own way
There are oceans and waves and wires between us
And you called to say you're getting older
Sometimes, planes, they crash up in the sky
Sometimes, lonely hearts, they just get lonelier
How did you survive your insufferable friends?
It was the plough that broke the western plains
And it's just, my heart gets rejected by my veins
And sometimes, planes, they crash up in the sky
And sometimes, lonely hearts, they just get lonelier
And lonelier, and lonelier, and lonelier
The opening lines of Rilo Kiley's "Wires and Waves" begin with a description of physical distance: "There are twelve hours, there's a day between us." The song is about the emotional distance between two people, and how that distance can be bridged, or remain unbridgeable, despite time, communication, and effort. The singer receives a call from someone expressing regret or apology ("You called to say you're sorry in your own way"), but the geographical and relational distance cannot be entirely overcome ("There are oceans and waves and wires between us"). The repeated line "sometimes, lonely hearts, they just get lonelier" speaks to the universal human experience of wanting to reach out, connect, and be understood, but often feeling ultimately alone.
The second verse of the song brings up the singer's own internal struggles, comparing them to external forces like natural disasters and societal pressures. The lines "How did you survive all those fires and floods? / How did you survive your insufferable friends?" indicate a sense of resilience, but also suggest that life can be difficult and harrowing. The reference to "the plough that broke the western plains" is a historical allusion to the destructive impact of settlers and their agricultural practices on the American West. The final line, "And it's just, my heart gets rejected by my veins," reinforces the theme of internal struggle and lack of connection.
Line by Line Meaning
There are twelve hours, there's a day between us
There is distance and time separating us
You called to say you're sorry in your own way
You expressed regret, but not in a straightforward manner
There are oceans and waves and wires between us
The physical and technological barriers between us are immense
And you called to say you're getting older
You acknowledged the passage of time
Sometimes, planes, they crash up in the sky
Unexpected events can have catastrophic outcomes
Sometimes, lonely hearts, they just get lonelier
Isolation can be self-perpetuating
How did you survive all those fires and floods?
How did you endure all the challenges that came your way?
How did you survive your insufferable friends?
How did you handle difficult relationships?
It was the plough that broke the western plains
It was a seemingly small action that caused a major change
And it's just, my heart gets rejected by my veins
My emotions don't align with my actions
And sometimes, planes, they crash up in the sky
Unexpected events can have catastrophic outcomes
And sometimes, lonely hearts, they just get lonelier
Isolation can be self-perpetuating
And lonelier, and lonelier, and lonelier
The feeling of loneliness can become increasingly intense
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Blake Sennett, Jenny Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@qriminal1648
Maybe they can reunite and come with an album. One of the greatest and criminally underrated bands of the 00s
@matttowers7088
I remember the first time I heard this song. It was at the Cotton Club in Atlanta back in 2001. I had never even heard of Rilo Kiley prior to that. They opened for Nada Surf that night. I can't remember any other songs they did that night besides this one, but I was mesmerized by this tune. That bass line instantly grabs you. The guitar really drives the feel. The melody has a couple of surprises that work well. And all of that was enough to put Rilo Kiley and Jenny Lewis on my radar, thankfully. I would have never discovered just how good they are had I not gone to see Nada Surf that night and showed up early enough to see the opening act. You never know when an opening act at a small venue can turn into a huge find.
@bryansmith9431
One of their very very best, and the bar is high.
@CliveGulch
Serving indie band on tour realness and I am here for all of it
@Virex99
Very Sonic Youth like.. Like it a lot!
@zachsmith3
I didn't even realize this footage was 20 years old til I read the description
@laurenhuber7814
This is really beautiful 😌
@bryansmith9431
If I had a Time Machine I would go lots of places. One of them would be the grocery store entrance on the day Jenny filmed some parts of this video using their security camera monitor.
Just to say hello.
@racewallmosquitoes
Reminds me of everything 🧔🏻♀️✌🏻
@choquecastroraul8365
super genial