"it's been twenty five years of spreading infection"

I knocked Rilo Kiley for so long. Only because I couldn't stand their first big single Portions for Foxes. I thought it sounded like too many other woman fronted one hit wonder bands. My views on Rilo Kiley have since changed and now I'm obsessed with the new Jenny Lewis album. I was drawn to the album when I heard the cover of a Traveling Wilburys song and upon listening the LP in it's entirety for the first time, I immediately wanted to be driving in a Cadillac down a street in Nashville. The amazing harmonies that send chills down my spine and gospel undertones would provide the perfect soundtrack.
In a conversation, my memory yet again failed me and I was forced to investigate into the matter: the other member of the Traveling Wilburys was ELO's Jeff Lynne. A supergroup, a la The Yardbirds, where each member had a similar moniker that made it seem as though they were a traveling band of brothers. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll claims that they were "by definition the ultimate supergroup" yet their 'brother' gimmick "made them the antithesis of a supergroup." Not buying it. They were just a supergroup with a gimmick composed mostly of amazing songwriting guitarists and a back beat drummer.



George Harrison, alias: Nelson (later Spike) Wilbury
Bob Dylan, alias: Lucky (later Boo) Wilbury
Jeff Lynne, alias: Otis (later Clayton) Wilbury
Tom Petty, alias: Charlie T. (later Muddy) Wilbury
Roy Orbison, alias: Left Wilbury
Jim Kelter [the back beat drummer. apparently not worthy of an alias]

The funny thing about supergroups is that they can never really last more than a few albums. It's like too much concentrated talent, not to mention ego. Clean your whites in pure bleach and watch the fabric get eaten away. Mix in a little oxy clean and a toxic cloud manifests.

For their cover of Handle With Care, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins compiled a different kind of supergroup – while it's charming to stick with original gimmicky thematics, I'd never truly call them a supergroup. Perhaps an emo-supergroup but that's an oxymoron. Like jumbo-shrimp.

Connor Oberst aka Bright Eyes
Ben Gibbard [Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, All-Time Quarterback]
M.Ward

Musicians that generally irritate me but together are tolerable enough to enjoy the cover as long as I don't listen or think too hard when Ben Gibbard sings Roy Orbison's lines. When I hear his voice I imagine ripping his whiney vocal chords out of his throat with my bare hands. Maybe it's just because when you're in multiple emo bands and emo is popular you get played a lot. Too often, in fact. And it gets to be irritating for people who have to hear that crap everywhere.

[side note: I understand being in multiple bands because being creative and being pigeonholed into a style or image is sometimes undesirable, but why be in multiple bands that sound so fucking alike?]

Oberst sings Dylan's lines - don't get me started. I refuse to comment any further for fear that I'll stop loving the song or the album so much.

With this post, I'm formally disclosing that I am a Rilo Kiley and Jenny Lewis fan. Though I have to admit, I still amuse myself by thinking of her, alongside co-star Fred Savage, making her way to the Nintendo tournament in The Wizard.