Ivy – the plant - for years grows consistently past the boundaries of its pot, and often in unexpected shapes. Ivy – the band – has been around for years, and like the plant, often is easy to ignore as it creeps along walls and demands little attention. However, unlike the plant, which will probably die in most people's apartment, Ivy's "Apartment Life" was just a beginning, the roots, of "In the Clear." With a menagerie of guests and a new producer, this album is more than just innocuous vegetation.
The album starts with an ethereal intro, "Nothing But Sky," with only four lines of lyrics including "Nothing but sky/Shining in your eyes," that redeems blue eyed girls from their Van Morrison induced exile. While other tracks on the album aren't as exciting or interesting – they might even be lifestyle pop, but who the fuck has that kind of lifestyle? – there are certainly more than a few gems. The lyrics sometimes edge towards postcards, but when Ivy stays minimal and doesn't push the rhyming too much, they succeed. (Particularly bad: I've got you memorized/I see it in your eyes/ When you start telling lies," from the creatively entitled "I've got you memorized.") In "Ocean City Girl," a sweet synthesized melody ebbs and flows among a background of strings and echoing vocals. Dominique Durand, lead singer, practically whispers "Tide is rising but time is standing still," and for that moment, it does.
This won't be the album that turns you onto Ivy. It won't even be the one you hum after you've finished listening. But it might be the one you listen to repeatedly for the next few weeks and enjoy every time. |