The Execution of All Things

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, the album 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 lead singer Jenny Lewis's 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.

This article is about the album. For the title song, see The Execution of All Things (song).
The Execution of All Things
Studio album by
Rilo Kiley
ReleasedOctober 1, 2002
RecordedMarch 2002
StudioPresto! Recording Studios, Lincoln, Nebraska
GenreIndie rock
Length47:44
LabelSaddle Creek
ProducerMike Mogis
Rilo Kiley chronology
Take-Offs and Landings
(2001)		 The Execution of All Things
(2002)		 More Adventurous
(2004)
Singles from The Execution of All Things
  1. "The Execution of All Things"
    Released: September 22, 2003
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Alternative Press[3]
Blender[4]
Drowned in Sound8/10[5]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]
MSN Music (Consumer Guide)A[8]
Pitchfork7.5/10[9]
Q[10]
Uncut[11]

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 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.

The song "With Arms Outstretched" played in the final moments of the series finale of Weeds, just as it had in the pilot.

The song "A Better Son/Daughter" was played in the trailer for the first season of the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black. It is also featured at the end of Hannah Gadsby's 2018 Netflix special Nanette.

This album is the 47th release of Saddle Creek Records.

As of July 2006 the album has sold 66,000 copies in United States.[12]

Track listing

All songs written by Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Good That Won't Come Out" 4:31
2."Paint's Peeling" 3:20
3."The Execution of All Things"Ben Boyer, Lewis, Sennett4:13
4."So Long" 5:27
5."Capturing Moods" 3:35
6."A Better Son/Daughter" 4:39
7."Hail to Whatever You Found in the Sunlight That Surrounds You" 3:20
8."My Slumbering Heart" 5:36
9."Three Hopeful Thoughts" 2:50
10."With Arms Outstretched" 3:43
11."Spectacular Views" 6:30
Total length:47:44

Personnel
Additional musicians
  • Amy Huffman – violin on "The Execution of All Things" and "Capturing Moods"
  • Gretta Cohn – cello on "The Execution of All Things" and "Capturing Moods"
  • Jiha Lee – 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 Mogis – 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 Fox – saxophone on "The Good That Won't Come Out"
  • Tim Kasher – accordion on "So Long"
  • Boy Choir on "With Arms Outstretched" – Blake Sennett, Jason Boesel, Conor Oberst and A.J. Mogis

References
  1. "Reviews for The Execution of All Things by Rilo Kiley". Metacritic. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. Hopkin, Kenyon. "The Execution of All Things – Rilo Kiley". AllMusic. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  3. "Rilo Kiley: The Execution of All Things". Alternative Press (173): 94. December 2002.
  4. Muirhead, Stuart (November 2002). "Rilo Kiley: The Execution of All Things". Blender (11): 140. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  5. Lovejoy, Sara (October 2, 2003). "Album Review: Rilo Kiley – The Execution of All Things". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  6. Brunner, Rob (November 8, 2002). "Listen 2 This*". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 22, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  7. Bronson, Kevin (September 29, 2002). "Rilo Kiley 'The Execution of All Things' Saddle Creek". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  8. Christgau, Robert (April 9, 2013). "Rilo Kiley". MSN Music. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  9. Dahlen, Chris (January 12, 2003). "Rilo Kiley: The Execution of All Things". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  10. "Rilo Kiley: The Execution of All Things". Q (204): 111. June 2003.
  11. "Rilo Kiley – The Execution Of All Things". Uncut (74): 114. July 2003. Archived from the original on December 27, 2005. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  12. "Major Moves - Rilo Kiley". Billboard. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
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