Customer Reviews

In The Clear

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ivy is one of those bands that has taken awhile to rise into full public view. And it's about time. Their fifth album "In the Clear" has the same charming pop and trippy melodies, but the band also expands on their guitar pop -- here it's a bit louder and more prominent, but very smooth.

After an airy opening song, Ivy launches into a series of guitar-led pop songs, like "Thinking About You" which is a little too bouncy for its own good. At first listen, some of these songs are rather dancepoppy, and it seems that Dominique Durand's voice is about to sink under the bouncy sounds. But a second or third listen reveals the pretty trip-hop melodies hidden under the beats.

Halfway through, the tempo changes drastically: "Four in the Morning" is a sleepy, swoony ballad, followed by some slow fuzzy songs and enchanting little pop songs. These are more like Ivy's past work, and they seem to come more easily than the catchier songs.

Ivy's has always been a prettier, more sophisticated kind of pop music, not what people usually think of as "pop." When people think of pop music, they generally think of generic-sounding, empty tunes tailored for radio play. Ivy is not anything like that -- instead it's light, airy melodies with very pretty vocals, never bringing to mind anything but itself.

And Dominique Durand's vocals are at the heart of Ivy's music -- her voice is sweet, a little wistful, and has the warm, distant quality that the music needs. Best of all, she's versatile. "Can't hide another smile/I've been thinking about you," she purrs near the beginning. But by the penultimate song, she's murmuring quietly about how "I should've known by now/I should have known better/and I feel so free..."

Jody Porter and James Iha (of Smashing Pumpkins fame) do a good job with the guitars, keeping things fast and sometimes a bit loud, although occasionally they overwhelm Durand's voice. The softer keyboard melodies come from the very talented Steve Osbourne, and songs like "Ocean City Girl" are graced with some smooth violin.

The guitars are a bit louder in "In the Clear," but Ivy's unique pop sound is sure to win over both new listeners and longtime fans. Definitely a keeper.

I bought "In The Clear" after discovering that Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne was one of the principal songwriters in Ivy. Knowing I could trust A.S. to write great songs and frustrated waiting for a follow up to "Welcome Interstate Managers" I grabbed this CD off the shelf when it went on sale. I was not disappointed. The pop hooks are mesmerizing and the jangling guitars and pastel synthesizers make me feel like I am surrounded by a warm musical womb. The melodies are gorgeous and delicate little details keep popping out of the mix to grab my attention on every track. Dominique's vocals are hypnotic and sexy. Stand out tracks are "Thinking About You", "Tess Don't Tell", "Ocean City Girl" and "Feel So Free" although, truth be told, all the songs are good. This music acts on my nervous system like a cross between prozac and ecstacy. It's a guilty pleasure and I don't care. The trouble is now I am addicted! I have already purchased "Apartment Life" (also excellent) and no doubt I will soon own "Long Distance", "Guestroom" and "Realistic". I have been listening to nothing but Ivy all week. There must be a 12-step program out there for this. I need some smelling salts or some Metallica or something!

As a huge Ivy fan I was wondering what direction the band was going to go in after the guitar heavy sounds of "Realistic", the perfect pop of "Apartment Life" and the electronic, soothing music of "Long Distance". After listening to the entire album all day I can report that instead of an electronic sound the album features more guitar oriented pop and sounds great.

Overall, the album has a very somber tone with a lot of quiet guitar music that's perfect for unwinding, but as I was listening I realized there's a song for everybody. Songs like "Tess Don't Tell" and "Corners of Your Mind" are more upbeat and feature catchy melodies that appeal to pop rock fans like myself while "Clear My Head" has a slightly distorted sound, but a great guitar melody that repeats throughout the song. "Feel So Free" relies on acoustic guitar and is a relaxing song to end the album on.

For fans of Ivy this album is great because it delivers more of Dominique Durand's vocals and the outstanding melodies and atmosphere that we've come to expect from the band. For people new to Ivy, you can't go wrong with this album, but I highly recommend some of their earlier albums to get you started.

Songs to check out:

Thinking About You
Tess Don't Tell
Corners of Your Mind
Clear My Head

Oh my god! I love this cd! This album is the most sophisticated, sleek and chic album ever. Listening to this album makes me want to open my own ultra modern cocktail lounge just so i can play this cd inside it.

No band i have ever head have been able to create such catchy vocal melodies and riffs and team them with such perfectly arranged pieces of music.

The perfect time to listen to this album would be while driving along a winding coast line overlooking a beach. Every time i listen to this album, i am inspired to do so.

My favourite song on this album is 'Keep Moving' and every time i hear it, i get chills down my spine.

This album has an atmosphere all of its own and once you put it in your cd player, you won't be able to take it out. I highly recomend this album.

Ivy are an indie pop/rock band based in New York. Their members are French accented singer Dominique Durand who has a soft velvety voice and New Yorker rockers Adam Schlesinger (of Fountains of Wayne) and Andy Chase (of Brookville). If you saw the movie "Shallow Hal" chances are you heard their pop songs throughout the film.

In The Clear is their latest recording and it is their most polished release to date. Ivy have a talent for mixing upbeat rock tracks with sensitive bittersweet pop melodies. Their music this time around is comprised of more drums and louder dominant guitars, giving the album a more Live sound and less moody vibe than say their previous more electronic oriented album Long Distance. The tempo is also faster and more energetic this time around similar to their covers album Guestroom. If one tried to compare their songs to any other bands, the closer they could come up with would be Saint Etienne, The Cardigans and tempo-wise The Cure mixed all together. Sophisticated carefree tunes with an undercurrent about troubled relationships make up their repertoire. It's a well produced album from beginning to end with the tempo getting a bit mellower in the end.

The album starts off with a sonic & starry piece called "Nothing But The Sky" where Dominique's vocals just float dreamily along the soft guitar & keyboard sounds. Next up is the album's first single "Thinking About You" a fast paced rock song that has a strong retro quality to it, a bit like a bouncy sixties song, that is followed by Disco infused "Keep Moving", a song that combines a subtle disco-dance tune along with more retro rock sounds. Similarly "I've got you memorized" combines these disco electronic elements with loud electric guitars blending in and out of the song. What really binds everything together so effortless is the simple sing along lyrics and Dominique's sweet accented singing style, she's just perfect for these compositions. Not dramatic, not overpowering, but rather breathy, softly cool and confident. "Corner Of Your Mind" a hyper party rock song blended with sweet pop that just doesn't get any better than this.

The moodier songs in this album are the real stunners, their lyrics express a feeling of uncertainty and longing. On "Four In The Morning" for example, a track that should win you from just one listen, the lyrics speak for themselves, "Four in the morning and I got that feeling, clocks ticking but my heart's not ticking, eyes open and I'm staring at the ceiling, tell me that you'll leave and give me something to believe in", making this quintessentially an insomniac's anthem and the deepest song in the album. "Ocean City Girl" has a main character that is fading in the ocean and the scenery where the sleepy vocals and the soft sounds bring to the surface the sense of tranquility and longing the song is expressing. Similarly "Feel So Free" is all about escape and freedom, with a chorus and acoustic guitars mixing with relaxed soft indie rock sounds.

It's hard to categorize Ivy, one moment they are a pop band with one track, then a rock band with another, then more electronic or accoustic, but what matters is that they produce amazing pop songs and memorable melodies and they are one of the best Indie bands to come out of New York. Sexy, sophisticated, bittersweet and well-produced airy songs that blur the lines of rock and pop and should delight fans of good pop music, they definitely shouldn't go unnoticed. Give them a spin and discover for yourselves one of pop music's most underrated and talented bands.

With every release it becomes harder to pick an Ivy favorite. In the Clear is at least a great as the previouse releases and may just edge them out as the most complete release to date.

To keep this short, if you've enjoyed songs like "Edge of the Ocean", "Undertow", or "Worry About You" from previous albums, there are at *least* 4 songs on the new one of that caliber: "Tess Don't Tell", "Thinking About You", "Corners of your mind", and "Feel So Free". Very melodic, and great singing by Dominique (as usual).

I just saw Ivy on their club tour, and it was great hearing all these new songs. (and their opening group Astaire is quite good, too). This is a top notch album.

Ivy is the kind of band that really makes you wish you discovered earlier. They have a unique and catchy sound, without the saccharine taste of pop. In the Clear was the album that introduced me to the band, and I was amazed at how comfortable and relaxing the music is. Some songs worth noting is.. Thinking about You, Clear My Head, although all the songs are great. Try their other albums if you like this one, I can't believe how great the quality is for every one of their songs. Sometimes I wonder why they aren't more famous.

You know the feeling - It's the first day of spring, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, it's about 75 degrees out, and the smell of freshly-cut grass is in the air. It's been so long since the weather was this nice (at least in the Midwest) - that's what I like to compare this album to. It's fresh, it's got personality, and it's really easy to listen to.
I admit, this is my first Ivy purchase, though I've heard all their albums at one time or another. This is my favorite, and the most accessible, for those who are looking to start listening to Ivy.
One of my personal favorites is "Thinking About You", with its blissful, so-happy-you-want-to-slap-someone vocals and driving rhythm. It's almost TOO cutesy, but it'll perk you up.
"Keep Moving" is another favorite, with it's disco-esque beat, funky guitars in the back, and bumping bassline, I think this song would be really complete with one of those fruity disco flutes tooting away in the back somewhere. Dominique skips across the beat flawlessly on this one, and even when the lyrics aren't quite so happy ("All I can do / in a world without you / is keep moving"), she sounds like she's still bouncing around.
"Tess Don't Tell" is similar to "Thinking About You" in format, fast beat, husky vocals, guitars, but for some reason, it's completely different. Fresh - just like this album, when you compare it to the excess fluff in the pop scene these days. Free your mind - this is what good music sounds like. And sure, if you're my age, you might get all sorts of homosexuality-themed remarks thrown your way in traffic when you turn this up in your car, but that's all the more incentive to turn it up more and drown out whatever their bandwagon's playing at the moment.

With their latest album, Ivy manages to do what so many bands find so very difficult -- make music that sounds fresh and different than previous efforts, while still retaining that which musically makes them who they are. Ivy has done exactly that in the present case. 'In The Clear' is great because it will appeal to all, wooing those not familiar to Ivy's music and delighting those who have been waiting 4 years for the new album. Not a single throwaway track -- this is a great CD by a great band.