Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Why You Should Like… Ivy

by John C. Hughes

IvyEnduring several record contracts, shifting musical tastes, and more than a few near-hits over the past 15 years, New York City-based dream-pop trio Ivy just may be the hardest-working band you’ve never heard of. Chances are, though, you’ve heard of bassist Adam Schlesinger’s other band, Fountains of Wayne, or his songs for movies like That Thing You Do! and Music and Lyrics. So, why should you like Ivy? First off, check out that pic of singer Dominique Durand above. What, you need more? Sheesh …

Jangle-Pop Roots: Wearing their Smiths and shoegazer influences on their sleeves, Ivy began as more of a guitar-based jangle-pop band, as tunes like “No Guarantee” (download) and “Don’t Believe a Word” fit right in with the growing mainstream acceptance of alternative music in the mid ’90s. Later works like “I’ve Got a Feeling” piled on the layers of guitars, creating beautiful, shimmering, three-minute pop masterpieces.

Synthpop Atmospherics: As the trio became more comfortable in their own skin, their sound expanded to even dreamier landscapes, adding synthesizers and orchestral flourishes to the mix. Chillout classics like “Keep Moving” (download) and “Thinking About You” provide the perfect soundtrack for a summer’s day on the Pacific Coast Highway or laying on the beach.

Superb Taste in Covers: Over the years, the band has shown impeccable taste in covering other people’s songs on b-sides and bonus tracks. Acts from Steely Dan to the Blow Monkeys have benefited from Ivy’s exquisite interpretations, including frequently name-checked Popdose crush Nick Heyward. The group covered his “Kite” (download) on their Guestroom EP, which collects all their covers in one handy stop. Also included — two versions of the Cure’s “Let’s Go to Bed”:

Label-Skipping Survivors: Ivy has shown great patience when it comes to record labels. Starting on indie Scratchie, then on to Seed Records, Atlantic snatched them up to the big leagues with 1997’s Apartment Life, only to drop them soon after. Sony swooped in, rereleasing and remixing Apartment Life, giving the single “The Best Thing” (download) the rare opportunity to be worked by two separate majors. Unfortunately, the public didn’t bite, so the band then signed to Nettwerk, then Minty Fresh, then back to Nettwerk. Phew.

Promotional Consideration: Despite all the record-company drama and minimal radio airplay, Ivy has managed to get their music out there via licensing in many movies and TV shows, as well as commercials. “Edge of the Ocean” (download) alone has been used in episodes of Alias, Grey’s Anatomy, Veronica Mars, and LAX, as well as in a commercial for Senseo coffee makers, so chances are you’ve heard it and didn’t even know it.

Ivy has been quiet since 2005’s In the Clear, but their resilience proves that fans shouldn’t have too long a wait until the next great release. Hopefully.

For Fans of: the Sundays, the Smiths, the Cardigans

Get Ivy music at Amazon or Ivy

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 at 1:30 pm and is filed under Music, Why You Should Like.... You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • AWESOME POST. REAL FUKKA NICE!!!! - heart, Tits!!!
  • I think one of their songs was the theme to "Kingdom Hospital," a short-lived ABC series from a few years back. The Farrelly brothers obviously like Ivy, seeing as how they put "This Is the Day" on the "There's Something About Mary" soundtrack and got Ivy to score "Shallow Hal" in 2001.

    I didn't like "Apartment Life" that much beyond "The Best Thing" and "I've Got a Feeling," but I've heard various songs over the years that guarantee I'll buy a best-of if it ever comes out. "I Think of You" is a perfect song. And Andy Chase's solo project, Brookville, has produced some good songs in the same vein as Ivy's.
  • Yes, indeed! Ivy makes very high-class pop music. I'm not enamored with all of their covers, but their original compositions are tops.

    News from The Ivy Vine, Ivy's Yahoo! Groups list, is that a new Brookville album and a new Ivy album should be dropping within a year or so -- the new Ivy still being in the recording stage, but I think Brookville was scheduled for this spring.

    Ivy is an excellent example of musical synergy -- three talents combining to form a greater whole. And it's about time they got some blog love, so kudos to Mr. Hughes and Popdose.
  • wombosi
    The music is stellar as is most Schlessinger, but I detest her voice. Uggh.
  • jack
    Saw them open for They Might Be Giants, of all things, in... 1994 or 95. They were great. Been a fan ever since. I like her voice, have all the Ivy releases, and I've never bought a Fountains of Wayne release!
  • Thanks for the reminder. Ivy also performed on an episode of "Roswell" as themselves in a wedding episode. IMDb says they played "Edge of the Ocean" and "Digging Your Scene." Despite having their music in 2 other episodes, Ivy does not appear on the show's soundtrack.

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0690301/
  • "I Think of You" plays over the closing credits of "Shallow Hal," but it's not on the movie's soundtrack album; Ivy scored the movie, like I said below, but they're not on the album at all. Contractual problems, maybe? Also, Phoenix's "Too Young" is used more prominently in "Shallow Hal" than it was in "Lost in Translation" two years later, which is when many people seemed to learn who Phoenix was, but the soundtrack album features their song "Summer Days" instead. Missed opportunities all around ...
  • I actually discovered the band by hearing their song Undertow play through the final scenes of one Roswell episode. Unfortunately that music was taken out of the DVD release, replaced by some other indie crap.

    After hearing the song on the original TV broadcast circa 2000, I searched Napster for "undertow" and found the song and the name of the band. After downloading everything I could find, I bought all all their albums and their debut EP.

    Of course, they couldn't remove Ivy -- their visual and audible presence -- from the DVD of the third season wedding episode where they played for the reception.

    If it were not for licensing for commercials, TV, and movies, I don't think this band could be a viable commercial enterprise. I note also that David Byrne also said in a recent piece in Wired magazine (or was it in the Wired online audio conversation between Byrne and Brian Eno?) that most of his income was now from licensing. I don't care. Whatever keeps 'em cranking out tunes is fine by me.
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