Customer Reviews

Long Distance

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Long Distance is a gorgeous CD, combining the lightest electronica touches with nice musical arrangements and lyrics about relationships, crumbling and otherwise ("Disappointed," "Lucy Doesn't Love You," "While We're In Love"). Other highlights include "Undertow" and "Edge of the Ocean," two songs that will sweep you away. Lead singer Dominique Durand has a sweet, sleek voice, and the songs are all incredibly catchy yet textured. I highly suggest checking out Ivy; I fell in love with every song on the album--it's soothing, and much more than background music.

Oh, and for those of you who saw "Shallow Hal," if you heard a few songs throughout the film that left you wondering "Who *was* that?": It was more than likely Ivy. The songs aren't on the "Shallow Hal" soundtrack, though, but they can be found on Long Distance.

I have been listening to tracks from this CD non stop, since I had gotten it from MP3s on Napster, and finally the US release date was today (July 10th 2001), so of course I went out and got it since good quality pop music is hard to find these days. I also saw the band twice today, one was a wonderful accoustic performance in Cambridge MA, and the other one was their brilliant and much loved concert in Somerville MA (my hands still hurt from clapping he he). What can I say, I love this album and I love this band. Some of my favorties are "While We'Re In Love", which has a nice hook, and is a song about a love relationship that is not meant to be, but of course it's sung so sweetly and melodically that you kinda forget it's a sad song, and you sing to the chorus. The next song I love from this album is "I Think Of You" that starts off with an electronic aetherial effect and of course the voice of Dominique Durand, singing "I think of you whenever I am alone whenever I get lonely, wherever you may go I know that you are only one dream away", what lovely lyrics, and of course the rest of the song is very nice, a bit upbeat in music, with visible drums and background vocals that are irresistible and make you want to sing along to the song. Next wonderful song iis "One More Last Kiss", a very mellow piece, with wonderful lyrics - "One more last kiss like two prisoners, one more last kiss to hold on to, one more last kiss just to remember you, before we fade away", very nice accoustic piece. Next dreamy piece that I like is "Edge Of The Ocean", which I think is one of the tracks that has the most potential for Ivy ever having a strong radio hit. It's a song that I think everyone loved at the concert tonight, and with an irresistible hook of "shala la la la" , and Dominique's beautiful accent is a sure hit. "Undertow" is moving in the same dreamy rhythmic territory with the guitars more apparent, the song points out how sometimes you can't fight destiny or the "undertow"... "Lucy Doesn't Love You" "Digging Your Scene" (a cover song)and "Blame It On Yourself" are three very upbeat, rock kinda songs, and finally "Lets Stay Inside" has a very bosa nova kind of feel to it, with nice accoustic guitars and a beautiful trumpet , with a carribean feel to it. Overall this album is mellower that their previous wonderful LP "Apartment Life" yet I think it seems stronger. The occasional electronic effects accentuate the album very nicely throughout, without taking away any of the pop or rock feel of the songs or any of the Summer feel or dreamyness they posess. I would definitely recommend this CD if you like bands such as Saint Etienne or The Cardigans. Lets hope they get the success they deserve SO much, from this release. Highly recommended on my list & of course all my friends know by now how much I love this band, and needless to say I have recomended them this CD already.

I've become a big big fan of Ivy, especially after screening a pre-release of 'Apartment Life' for radio, and also asking them some questions about their musical route. Right now, Ivy is arguably the best band out there, track for track. Their third album, 'Long Distance,' is an album full of songs and lyrics that will stay in your head, for many weeks to come. The band is effectively able to blend modern rock, indie pop, and subtle electronica all into a heavenly mix. Members Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger, display their unique talents as musicians and producers, and singer, Dominique Durand has improved her vocals and interpretive style. 'Long Distance' is fantastic, from beginning to end. The best of the best, are probably "Undertow," "Worry About You," "Midnight Sun," "I Think Of You," "Hideaway," and "One More Last Kiss."

"Worry About You" has a jazzy-cafe-like chorus in it, layered into a well sequenced drum beat, and a steady acoustic folk guitar. "Midnight Sun" adds the elements of Fender Rhodes, wah wah effects, and violin. "I Think Of You" is a down-tempo dance tune with some nice electronica elements. "Hideaway" probably stands out from all of the other songs on 'Long Distance.' It's a great great band track, and that synth/keyboard loop in it, tantalizes the mind! I love the piano chord intro to "One More Last Kiss." This song is a pure example of how well Ivy creates harmony, melody, catchy lyrics, and well conceived musical landscapes. The vocal dubs are sexy, and the chorus is very coquettish.

Definitely support this band!!!!!

Undertow draws you subtly into listening to this entire album. Dominique Durand's voice was a stunning surprise and the lyrics are delicately introspective. This is one of those albums you look for and when you find it, you can't believe you didn't find it sooner. With appealing melodies and electronic flourishes, this is relaxing but contemplative.

Edge of the Ocean has that "Coldplay" feel that sinks you into sound. By the time you hit "While Were in Love" the album has become weighted down a bit and there is an underwater feeling with deep bubbles of sound rising to the top of the water as the pace seems to increase and the mood lightens. Lucy Doesn't Love You is light and breezy with the mood of moving onto new dreams.

"Worry About You" is ecstatic in wistful beauty with a lullaby quality. The alternating depths and breezy moods makes this very interesting in an analytical way. "Let's Stay Inside" has an otherworldly echoing quality at the start and the melts into tropical reverberations and romantic notions.

"I Think of You" feels intimate and will appeal to electronica fans who like a heavier mood with light lyrics. It really takes off into musical perfection in places.

It is rare to find an album you want to listen to from beginning to end and this might just be one of them!

~The Rebecca Review

Recently heard Ivy's song "Hideaway" on satellite radio and after sampling the entire Long Distance album online, I decided I most definitely wanted to OWN THIS CD. I don;t give out 5-star ratings often, and don't even usually bother to write reviews. this is different. This CD absolutely captivates me, and I also bought all 6 CDs as a result. In the age of downloading a song for a buck, it is quite a strong endorsement to buy 6 CDs. I know you all know what I am talking about. How would I describe Ivy? Hauntingly beautiful. Meaningful. Refreshingly different. Hummable. Addictive. Even the sad songs make you feel everything is alright. Very intricate musical arrangements that always offer something a little surprising.

I bought this album yesterday, and I've already listened to it at least five times. I've been an Ivy fan since their first album, and I believe that "Long Distance" is their best effort to date. "LD" has a more polished and sophisticated sound than their other albums, but they've still managed to retain that effortless pop sensiblity that's characterized their work so far. If you like smart, catchy melodies that will stick in your head for days, enigmatic lyrics, a beautiful singing voice, and solid composition, then do yourself a favor and give this album a listen.

Can you be haunted by an album...listen to it more than a dozen times and never tire of it, feel that it has helped you through bad times and good times, improved your heart rate and your dreams?

If you don't think so or you're not sure, you should give Ivy's LONG DISTANCE a try. I kid you not when I say it will never be away from your music player for very long. Repeated listens never dull the album, but instead enrich it.

The album is beauty in slow motion, a perfect production that is every bit as natural as breathing and it's so wonderful you might think you imagined it.

Track by track, LONG DISTANCE never disconnects. There are the vulnerable dreamboat songs like "Edge of the Ocean," "Let's Stay Inside," "Midnight Sun" and "One More Last Kiss" (this is where I almost gasp it's so wonderful. I picture myself at the beach, utterly at peace, the sky blue, the breeze a friendly tease.)

Then Dominique Durand walks on air with more uptempo (but equally relaxing) songs like "Blame it On Yourself" (very catchy!!), "Lucy Doesn't Love You" and "I Think of You."

I'm not saving the best for last (everything here is "best for last"!!)so much as I'm saving the most devastating for last...the songs that should scorch your heart with sadness, but somehow don't because Ivy reminds us that even when things are bad, there's still loveliness in life.

One example of this is the brilliantly ironic (but not cynical) "While We're in Love." In the wrong hands, this ballad could be mean-spirited, but here it is utterly beguiling and heart-wrenching with its sincere, realistic look at the fleeting happiness of relationships. It's also very mystical and alluring, two qualities familiar to any Ivy fan.

There is no poison to be found in Ivy's music, just lots of time for reverie...It even ends on a playful note with the sweet "Digging Your Scene."

How I adore this album...it's hard to explain just how transforming the listening experience can be! My review could never do it justice...All I can do is ask you to listen and then, THEN you'll hear for yourself.

Apartment Life is a gorgeous CD, combining the lightest electronica touches with nice musical arrangements and lyrics about relationships, crumbling and otherwise ("Disappointed," "Lucy Doesn't Love You," "While We're In Love"). Other highlights include "Undertow," "The Best Thing," and "Edge of the Ocean," songs that will sweep you away. Lead singer Dominique Durand has a sweet, sleek voice, and the songs are all incredibly catchy yet textured. I highly suggest checking out Ivy; I fell in love with every song on the album--it's soothing, and much more than background music.

Oh, and for those of you who saw "Shallow Hal," if you heard a few songs throughout the film that left you wondering "Who *was* that?": It was more than likely Ivy. The songs aren't on the "Shallow Hal" soundtrack, though, but they can be found on Apartment Life.

Long Distance is like an LP with two sides. The first six tracks run the gamut from moody to dreamy to bouncy. There's no plan or program -- just fine individual pop tunes with Ivy's trademark class production and Dominique Durand's breathy sly understated vocals. Tracks 7-12 constitute a complete work by themselves, like the flip side of Abbey Road. A bit downtempo and dreamy (I used that word already, but it fits for these songs), but mesmerizing. A desert island disc.

Five stars are given too lightly by most reviewers on amazon.com. But I really mean it. This is pop music in a class with Sergeant Pepper, XTC's Oranges and Lemons, James Taylor's Gorilla, or Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years. Top of the heap.

Not to mention Edge of the Ocean, the best and most beautiful pop song of the past decade, cut number 3. Ivy has the capacity to take simplicity and make it compelling listening. Hear for yourself the magic of Ivy.

When I first heard Ivy on the TV show "The 4400", I just had to hear more. The song "Worry About You" was on the soundtrack. I am a 41 year old male raised on classic rock, and very tired of today's "no-talent" bands. Ivy is a sound unlike any other that I have heard in many years. Its kind of tropical, light music with the most beautiful soft female vocalist I have heard in years. Mixed in is some tasteful electronics, lots of guitar, and a touch of Herb Alpert type trumpet sounds. I absolutely love it!