Ivy
In the Clear
(Nettwerk)
First Appeared in The Music Box, February 2005, Volume 12, #2
Written by John Metzger
On In the Clear, Ivy’s fourth full-length album of original material,
the band — which serves as an effective side project for Fountains of Wayne’s
Adam Schlesinger — attempts to bridge the divide that it created between the
hook-filled pop of its breakthrough outing Apartment Life and its less
overt successor Long Distance. Unfortunately, this fusion never comes
fully to fruition, and most of In the Clear’s tracks sound like leftovers
from one side of the crevasse or the other. The collection begins promisingly
enough with Nothing but the Sky, an ethereal confectionary upon which
lead singer Dominique Durand’s vocals defy gravity and spray wispy trails of
light as they sail across the group’s underlying, meditative groove. Likewise,
on the subsequent Thinking about You, the collective delves into
shimmering ’80s pop to create an airy, Smashing Pumpkins-on-opium ambience by
wrapping a string-slathered accompaniment around the corners of its perky
melodic overtures. The remainder of the set, however, goes astray, and although
Ivy draws everyone from Blondie’s new wave to Nico’s underground rock into its
swirling dream-pop fray, there’s little that succeeds as completely as In the
Clear’s initial pair of selections. Indeed, where Fountains of Wayne
provides Schlesinger with an opportunity to exorcize his power pop inclinations,
Ivy offers him an avenue for exploring more experimental textures. Still, moody
introspection alone isn’t enough to carry In the Clear, and although it
is pleasant and occasionally interesting, it’s not nearly as gripping as it
could be. 
Of Further Interest...
The Churchills - The Odds of Winning
Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather
Adam Richman - Patience & Science
In the Clear is available
from Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2005 The Music Box