Under the Blacklight

Album history[edit]

The album marks the return of the band following individual solo projects. On January 24, 2006, Jenny Lewis released Rabbit Fur Coat while Blake Sennett released Sun, Sun, Sun with The Elected.


The album was produced by the band with Jason Lader and Mike Elizondo.^[2] The first single to be released from the album was "The Moneymaker".^[3] The second single was "Silver Lining".


Several tracks from Blacklight were leaked in advance of the album's official release date. On August 17, 2007, the band started streaming the whole album on their MySpace page.


The album's jewel case is tinted purple, reminiscent of a blacklight. The album's covers and inlays were designed by Lewis and Pierre de Reeder, with photography by Autumn de Wilde. The liner notes do not feature any song lyrics.


The band's first official major label debut features a number of guests musicians, including Jackson Browne, Alex Greenwald of Phantom Planet and James Valentine and Mickey Madden from Maroon 5. However, the album credits do not state on which songs the guests appear.


Under the Blacklight debuted at number 22 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 27,000 copies in its first week.^[4] As of December 2012, sales in the United States have exceeded 186,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.^[5]


On September 25, 2007, Rilo Kiley appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform "Dreamworld". "Dreamworld" was the first Rilo Kiley song to become popular in Russia. In November 2007 it was added to the playlist of Maximum, one of the most popular stations in Russia.


"Breakin' Up" was heard at the end of the Grey's Anatomy season 4 episode "Forever Young". "The MoneyMaker" was used as the background music in promotional spots for Fox Network's "Canterbury's Law" and a 2009 Carl's Jr. ad featuring Audrina Patridge. "15" was included in the "Clearance Sale" show of Season 3 of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio in April 2009.