The Execution of All Things
Encyclopedia
The Execution of All Things is the second full length album released by Los Angeles
-based indie pop
band Rilo Kiley
. Expanding on their previous musical sound that mostly incorporated guitars, vocals, percussion and pianos, "Execution" contains heavy electronica sampling mixed into the songs in a rather unusual and displaced-sounding way. Also, unlike their previous tracks which were written in very traditional manners, the lyrics to the songs on "Execution" are very wordy and read like prose. Musically, the record has a very sunny disposition, with bouncing bass lines and simple melodies complemented by Lewis' vocal style, but the upbeat music is generally counterpointed by the often dark and morose subject matter that the lyrics reference. The album was recorded at Saddle Creek Records
in Omaha
, Nebraska
, and the aforementioned features show the influence of that studio's associated Omaha Sound.
The album is also strung together by a song that is broken into pieces and that trails between several tracks. Called "And That's How I Choose to Remember It," it tells the story of lead singer Jenny Lewis
' childhood and her parents' divorce. This theme is visited throughout the album, which is lyrically filled with childhood recollections of loss, displacement, anger, and hopelessness.
The songs "So Long" and "Three Hopeful Thoughts" feature lead vocals by Blake Sennett
. Lewis sings lead on all other tracks.
This album is the 47th release of Saddle Creek Records
.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
-based indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel....
. Expanding on their previous musical sound that mostly incorporated guitars, vocals, percussion and pianos, "Execution" contains heavy electronica sampling mixed into the songs in a rather unusual and displaced-sounding way. Also, unlike their previous tracks which were written in very traditional manners, the lyrics to the songs on "Execution" are very wordy and read like prose. Musically, the record has a very sunny disposition, with bouncing bass lines and simple melodies complemented by Lewis' vocal style, but the upbeat music is generally counterpointed by the often dark and morose subject matter that the lyrics reference. The album was recorded at Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
in Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, and the aforementioned features show the influence of that studio's associated Omaha Sound.
The album is also strung together by a song that is broken into pieces and that trails between several tracks. Called "And That's How I Choose to Remember It," it tells the story of lead singer Jenny Lewis
Jenny Lewis
Jennifer Diane Lewis , is an American singer-songwriter musician and actress. She was the primary vocalist of the indie rock band Rilo Kiley, and has released two solo albums. She currently performs as part of the duo Jenny & Johnny with boyfriend Johnathan Rice...
' childhood and her parents' divorce. This theme is visited throughout the album, which is lyrically filled with childhood recollections of loss, displacement, anger, and hopelessness.
The songs "So Long" and "Three Hopeful Thoughts" feature lead vocals by Blake Sennett
Blake Sennett
Blake Sennett is the lead guitarist for indie rock band Rilo Kiley and the lead singer/lead guitarist for his alt-rock side project the Elected. He was born as Blake Sennett Swendson in San Diego, California. He attended La Jolla High School with his Rilo Kiley bandmate Pierre De Reeder...
. Lewis sings lead on all other tracks.
This album is the 47th release of Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Lewis and Sennett except where noted.- "The Good That Won't Come Out" – 4:31
- "Paint's Peeling" – 3:20
- "The Execution of All Things"The Execution of All Things (song)"The Execution of All Things" is the title track of Los Angeles-based indie rock band Rilo Kiley's second album. It was released as a single on September 22, 2003 via Saddle Creek. Rilo Kiley's cover of The Velvet Underground's "After Hours" appears as a b-side, as does a new track called...
(Ben Boyer, Lewis, Sennett) – 4:13 - "So Long" – 5:27
- "Capturing Moods" – 3:35
- "A Better Son/Daughter" – 4:39
- "Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight That Surrounds You" – 3:20
- "My Slumbering Heart" – 5:36
- "Three Hopeful Thoughts" – 2:50
- "With Arms Outstretched" – 3:43
- "Spectacular Views" – 6:20
- "And That's How I Choose to Remember It" - 0:04
Additional musicians
- Amy Huffman - violin on "The Execution of All Things" and "Capturing Moods"
- Gretta CohnGretta CohnGretta Cohn is a cellist who is best known for playing cello in the rock group Cursive from 2001-2005. She left the group in August 2005. Her departure was announced on the Cursive website in late August:...
- cello on "The Execution of All Things" and "Capturing Moods" - Jiha LeeJiha LeeJiha Lee is the former keyboardist of the Good Life and has performed with Bright Eyes. Having left the Good Life after their second album, Black Out, she returned to record the track "Inmates" for Album of the Year. Her recordings with Bright Eyes include vocals and flute on tracks from Fevers...
- flute on "Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight that Surrounds You" - Kristen Bailey - saw on "And That's How I Choose to Remember It"
- Mike MogisMike MogisMike Mogis is a Nebraskan producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios ....
- pedal steel, guitar, vibraphone, and glockenspiel on "The Good That Won't Come Out," pedal steel on "Paint's Peeling," pedal steel and vibraphone on "Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight that Surrounds You," banjo on "And That's How I Choose to Remember It" - Rick Ricker - French horn on "Capturing Moods" and "My Slumbering Heart"
- Ryan FoxRyan FoxRyan Fox is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska. He is a member of the band The Good Life, and fronted The '89 Cubs.-Discography:The Good Life*Black Out *Lovers Need Lawyers *Album of the Year *"Heartbroke"...
- saxophone on "The Good That Won't Come Out" - Tim KasherTim KasherTim Kasher is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska, and is the frontman of indie rock groups Cursive and The Good Life, both of which are on the Omaha based record label Saddle Creek Records. Prior to those bands, Kasher was in a band called Slowdown Virginia...
- accordion on "So Long" - Boy Choir on "With Arms Outstretched" - Blake SennettBlake SennettBlake Sennett is the lead guitarist for indie rock band Rilo Kiley and the lead singer/lead guitarist for his alt-rock side project the Elected. He was born as Blake Sennett Swendson in San Diego, California. He attended La Jolla High School with his Rilo Kiley bandmate Pierre De Reeder...
, Jason BoeselJason BoeselJason Boesel was the drummer for Rilo Kiley and has also played with The Elected. He also drummed in the Bright Eyes touring band during their 2005 tour, and went on to write the liner notes for the consequent Bright Eyes live album, Motion Sickness and contributing to Bright Eyes' 2007 record,...
, Conor OberstConor OberstConor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer , Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.-Musical career:Oberst began...
, and A.J. Mogis