Rilo Kiley are Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder and Jason Boesel. 'More Adventurous', their fantastic 2004 album (their fourth) has won them critical acclaim, commercial success and the love of adoring indie kids the world over. They were considered fashion icons. They toured with Coldplay. They were played on the OC.

Then Rilo Kiley took a break. Jenny embarked on her "...with The Watson Twins" solo project, Blake continued with his The Elected (we interviewed him back in our July '06 issue), Jason drummed for Bright Eyes and Pierre designed charity T-Shirts. Now they're back. We spoke to them on the phone for 15 minutes the day before the UK release of "Under The Backlight". It's their sexiest, most polished-sounding album to date. We rather like it.

Jenny: Hi Roy, how are you?
Roy: I'm good. How are you?
Jenny: Well. Thanks.
Roy: What's the new album like?
Jenny: Have you heard it?
Roy: Not yet. I've heard Moneymaker and Silver Lining. Silver Lining is very good.
Jenny: Oh thanks. It kind of sounds like both songs but add nine more. There are eleven songs on the record and it all falls somewhere in between the two of those. Silver Lining is one end of the spectrum and Moneymaker is the other.
Roy: Could you sum up the album in a seven worded sentence?
Jenny: You know what, I will pass you on for that one.
Jason: Well I had a joke sentence I mumbled in the corner and they want me to tell it to you. My sentence was "It's pretty crunchy and also kinda crispy". It's seven words actually. Nailed it!
Roy: Awesome. Why didn't you record Under The Blacklight with Mike Mogis (Saddle Creek producer who produced the last two Rilo Kiley albums)?
Jason: I think we made two records in a row with Mike Mogis and we felt it was time for a change and I think that he was pretty heavily involved with Bright Eyes at the time anyway so that was a good opportunity for us to seek out new people, which is kind of exciting, y'know?
Roy: One of the producers of your new album worked on The Real Slim Shady. Would you say the record is more hip-hoppy?
Jason: It's not exactly hip-hoppy but definitely there is a shift more towards the rhythmic side of things. I think it takes the pressure off the syringe and adds it on to the body.
Roy: What's next? Touring a lot and then back to solo projects?
Jason: I don't think that's clear as of yet. I think we'll be touring for a while so we're just gonna take that for now.
Anna: Well, I have a question for you, my name is Anna, hello?
Jason: Hi Anna.
Anna: It's a would-you-rather question. Would you rather that your body mass was slightly hazy...
Jason: My body mass?
Anna: Yeah, as in when people try and look at you they can't quite see you because you're a bit hazy...
Jason; Ok.
Anna: ...or that you had wooden blocks instead of feet?
Jason: Ok. Wow. Is my body hazy enough so I could like sneak into women's showers and stuff?
Anna: They would still be able to see you it's just that they won't quite be able to make out your edges.
Jason: My edges will be blurry or wooden blocks for feet... Are the wooden blocks definitely block shaped?
Anna: Yes.
Jason: What sort of wood is it?
Anna: Let's go with pine.
Jason: I think I'll take the wooden blocks for feet and I would shape them into feet.
Anna: You are one of very few to answer wooden blocks.
Jason: I don't think I want to be hazy.
Roy: How is the band Influenced by visual arts/ literature/ poetry?
Pierre: Hi, I'm Pierre. Sure. No matter... you are influenced by everything in your life. I think everyone's got a good interest in artistic wander. I couldn't give a direct causal.
Roy: Do you have a favourite poet or author?
Pierre: I have a current favourite just because I'm immersed in Hunter S Thompson but I wouldn't say I have an all time favourite.
Anna: Do you reckon you could write a rhyming couplet about your current mood?
Pierre:
I feel hazier than Jason's edges
'cos I've been sunk beneath the ledges... across the sea.
Anna: That's beautiful.
Roy: What new music are you excited about?
Piere: I don't know. The most immediate exciting thing for me was yesterday seeing Rodrigo Y Gabriela because they're really awesome. There are not many contemporary things that I delve into right now. I'm gonna pass on so there's a fair quotient from everyone.
Blake: Hello.
Roy: We're going to play a little game. I'll give you a word and you need to make up a definition for it.
Blake: Ok.
Roy: First word - Gamlin.
Blake: Gamlin is a third level cleric in the game Magic.
Roy: Second word - Chamsbrone.
Blake: Chamsbrone is a traditional Scottish garb you wear under the kilt to protect your privates during tests of strength.
Roy: Last word- Osculation.
Blake: Osculation is the feeling or the state or the basically, it happens to you after you've been spinning and your brain is spinning you and your eyes look forward and it looks like it's spining. The post-spin mind state.
Roy: Do you have a nickname?
Blake: I do actually.
Roy: What is it?
Blake: I think a lot of my close friends tend to call me The B Man these days.
Roy: That's good.
Blake: We all have nicknames.
Anna: Can we hear the others' as well.
Blake: Sure. Jason's is Lieutenant Bogemill, Pierre's is Truce and Jenny's is Louise, as in Thelma and...
Anna: Why is that?
Blake: Jenny Lewis.
Anna: Oh. That makes sense.
Roy: What's your favourite nursery rhyme?
Blake: I'm gonna go with Little Miss Muffet .
Roy: Can you recite it?
Blake:
Blake: Anybody know a good nursery rhyme?
Jason: I've got one.

Anna: That was terrifying.
Roy: Thank you Rilo Kiley.