REVIEW: Ivy, Apartment Life (Atlantic)
- Patrick Carmosino
The title of Ivy's second lp evokes the comfort level that is attained here, provided that your apartment isn't a broom-closet sized, roach infested studio that may just not be worth the grand a month you're laying down on it. But enough of city dweller woes, the mix of pop sophistication and said comfort gives the second release from this New York City-based trio a lovely feel that guitar-driven pop bands of today should strive for. It puts them in good company with the likes of Edwyn Collins, Lloyd Cole (who produced a track here), early Everything But The Girl, Go Sailor and others of the same ilk.
It should also be pointed out that Ivy have an indie-ethic rock side that compliments their pop sensibilities to the tee on such tracks as "The Best Thing" and "You Don't Know Anything". Guitarist Andy Chase shows off a variety of analog effects that give the easy-as-pie melodies and French-born singer Dominique Durand's delicate tones room to breathe. When matched up against such gems as the horn-enhanced "This Is The Day", "Never Do That Again" and "Get Out Of The City", these songs make one wonder how Ivy have remained a rather unintentionally well-kept secret. This is especially poignant given that Ivy bassist Adam Schlesinger's other pop-happy band, Fountains Of Wayne, have gained worldwide attention in the time that it took Ivy to release this album. Whether grand success comes or not, Ivy has demonstrated in two albums time, an ability to create deceptively attractive, tastefully arranged pop pieces that acknowledge a time when this was the norm as well as pointing to a contemporary style created and applauded by people who know what the real deal is.
