Arrivals & Departures [Import]

The Icicles (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Microindie
• ASIN: B000Q38FIU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,868 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Second full length from these Detroit super popstars! This music is all about fun & catchy sing along jingles. To steal use of one of their song titles: their music is "Sugar Sweet!" While there are plenty of "aww how cute" moments in the back-story of Grand Rapids, Michigan's The Icicles, it would be a mistake to see them as mere DIY indie-poppers. It's true; The Icicles did sell handmade hats and mittens at craft shows to pay for the recording of their debut EP. Joleen, initially too shy to play with Gretchen in the early days, thought she'd be of use to the fledgling group as a seamstress. But, The Icicles needed a keyboardist, and Gretchen liked how Joleen sweetly played "Blackbird" on the guitar when they first met as students at Grand Valley State University. So, with Joleen in place, the band was born. The group eventually found their way to the stage via the local pop shows brought to Grand Rapids by their future label boss, Drive In/Microindie's Mike Babb, and have stood out (in matching outfits) from day one. They are, at once, a perfect combination of surface and substance. The Icicles share with their contemporaries The Concretes and Camera Obscura (or with past favorites Heavenly, The Softies and Tiger Trap) the ability to create music that recalls the joyous pop sound of the great Sixties' girl groups, at the same time managing to breathe a certain maturity into this oft-visited genre. The tried and true themes of young love and youthful, naive exuberance are present, but tempered with realism and the wistfulness that comes through a grown-up knowledge of conflict and regret.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Wonderful!, October 2, 2007

By 

Jane Petitjean "Zelda Gefelta" (Toledo, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arrivals & Departures (Audio CD)

This is the kind of music that is refreshing and catchy...and I keep playing it again and again! I think the point of it is the pleasure of the story and the music combined. The lead singer, Gretchen, has a wonderfully pure quality to her voice, the backup vocals are right on and the band has a unified and unique sound. And another lead vocalist, Jolene, has a very mysterious and lovely voice as well. All in all, very cool! And the fact that these are all original tunes...what a talented group!!! Hey, what's up with the "boy" drummer throwing this all girl band out of the "girl band" classification? But, his beats are supurb so who cares?! I especially loved "Gedges Song" as well as "Chasing Fireflies". It seems that there is a bitter sweet quality laced into the humor of some of the lyrics...if you listen very carefully. It is just a really great collection of music! I loved it! I can't wait for more from The Icicles!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside info, October 30, 2007

By 

J. Maggetti "Music Guru" (Berkley, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arrivals & Departures (Audio CD)

The Icicles are great! Very catchy, poppy lyrics, but yet so different from anything you will hear on the radio and such a refreshing break from the crap played on the radio these days! You have heard their songs in the Krazr commercial and more recently the Target comercial. I also have some insider information and know that Gedges song is about their cat named Gedge. If you are tired of the stuff on the radio and like to sing along to some catchy tunes, then pick up the icicles Cds.

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some promise here, May 25, 2007

By 

Nobody - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arrivals & Departures (Audio CD)

At times this is too cute by half, like "Gedge's Song", which also illustrates they are not very accomplished yet, it sounds like the singer is reading the lyrics and her breath control is lacking. On the other hand the essential instinct for songwriting seems to be there, most of the songs are put together well and are pleasing to the ears, that's more than half the battle, the rest they can learn. I'd like to see them play a little harder, lose the country tinge and the silly lyrics ("Fall Day") and especially get more serious. Just because you're a girl band doesn't mean you have to be light and giggly. We'll see.