Ivy (band) 891131 226104442 2008-07-16T21:02:43Z Twsx 1964288 fixing genre capitalization mistakes per [[Wikipedia:MUSTARD#Capitalization|WP:MUSTARD]] -> [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(capital_letters)#Musical_genres|MOS:CAPS]] + cleanup. {{Infobox musical artist 2 |Name = '''Ivy''' <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: |Img = Ivycouch.jpg --> |Img_capt = Ivy circa 2003. Left to right: Schlesinger, Durand, Chase. |Background = group_or_band |Origin = [[New York City]], [[New York]], [[United States|USA]] |Instruments = |Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Indie rock|Indie]], [[Indie pop]] |Years_active = [[1994]]–present |Label = [[Unfiltered Records]] |URL = [http://www.thebandivy.com/ Official site] |Current_members = [[Dominique Durand]]<br/>[[Adam Schlesinger]]<br/>[[Andy Chase]] }} '''Ivy''' is a [[New York City]] band composed of a trio of musicians, [[Adam Schlesinger]], Dominique Durand, and [[Andy Chase]]. ==Recording history== ===''Lately'' and ''Realistic''=== [[Image:Ivyrealistic.jpg|thumb|left|''Realistic'' LP, released in 1995.]]Ivy was formed in [[1994]] when multi-instrumentalists Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger convinced [[Parisian]] born Dominique Durand, who had never before sung in a group, to venture into a New York studio and record a four-song tape with them. Dominique, who moved to [[New York City]] from [[Paris]] in 1990, first met Andy at a party, where he was playing with his previous band. She told him that his band was "not [her] cup of tea". The two became involved in a romantic relationship, which lasts to the present day. Three years later, Andy and Dominique wrote a song, and asked Adam to play bass on demo. Adam persuaded Andy and Dominique to write more together, which eventually resulted in a five-song demo. One of the first songs they recorded, "Get Enough", was released as a 7"-[[Single (music)|single]] and was quickly named "Single Of The Week" in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]'s [[Melody Maker]]. [[Image:Ivylately.jpg|thumb|120px|right|''Lately'' EP, released in 1994.]]They followed that single with an [[EP]] ''[[Lately (EP)|Lately]]'' (released on [[Seed]]), and then on [[February 14]], [[1995]] released their debut full-length ''[[Realistic (album)|Realistic]]'', which – although raw compared to their later work - hinted at the melodic sophistication and emphasis on production detail that would follow. During this period the group began touring, sharing the stage with [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]], [[Edwyn Collins]], [[Lloyd Cole]], [[St. Etienne]], [[Madder Rose]], [[Yo La Tengo]], [[The Divine Comedy]] and many others. The band also produced and released the ''[[I Hate December]]'' [[remix]] CD. The [[black-and-white]] video featuring the band lip-synching playing in the bar was produced for both original and remixed edits of the song. It stays the only Ivy's release on [[Scratchie Records]], the label belonging to [[The Smashing Pumpkins]]' members [[James Iha]] and [[D'arcy Wretzky]] and co-owned by Adam Schlesinger. ===''Apartment Life''=== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Apartmentlife.jpg|thumb|left|''Apartment Life'' LP, released in 1997.]] -->On their second full-length album, ''[[Apartment Life]]'' (released [[October 6]], [[1997]] on [[Atlantic]]), Ivy hit its stride, introducing richer arrangements and a wider palette of sounds, while at the same time taking their songcraft to a new level. The album was named one of the year’s best by scores of critics, and the group’s fan base increased exponentially; they toured extensively in support of the new record over the next two years. [[James Iha]] of the [[The Smashing Pumpkins]] appeared as a guest vocalist and guitarist on "Back In Our Town", and as a guitarist on "Quick, Painless & Easy". He is known as being a fan of Ivy and being a friend with Adam, as well with other bandmates. Adam played piano on James' song "The Bells" released on The Smashing Pumpkins' "[[Thirty-Three (song)|Thirty-Three"]] single, and also contributed to Iha's own solo album "[[Let It Come Down (James Iha album)|Let It Come Down]]". Iha thanked Ivy in the liner notes of ''Let It Come Down''. It is rumoured that James Iha helped the band get signed on Atlantic, and since ''Apartment Life'' he appears on every band's release, contributing or producing at least one track. Other session and guest musicians included [[Dean Wareham]] ([[Luna (band)|Luna]]), [[Stanley Demeski]] ([[Luna (band)|Luna]], [[Feelies]]); [[Chris Collingwood]] and [[Jody Porter]] ([[Fountains of Wayne]]); [[Alan Rubin]] (played trumpet in [[The Blues Brothers]] and many others, including his support for [[Miles Davis]], [[James Brown]] and others). ''Apartment Life'' spawned Ivy's first official CD single with the release of "The Best Thing", followed by "I've Got a Feeling" and the EPs "This Is the Day" and "You Don't Know Anything". "I've Got a Feeling" also has a promotional video. The album was re-released the next year on [[October 7]], [[1998]] on [[550 Music]] when the band was dropped by Atlantic. The re-release featured a different artwork (Dominique's photo which had been on the inside is now on the cover, with shelves deleted), and different mixes of "I've Got a Feeling", "This Is the Day" and "Back In Our Town". ===''Long Distance''=== ''[[Long Distance (album)|Long Distance]]'', their third LP, was released in [[July 10]], [[2001]] on [[Nettwerk]], and won the group an even wider audience both at home and abroad. The album was released on [[November 8]], [[2000]] in [[Japan]], which is seven months prior to US release, and included one bonus track "It's All in Your Mind". The US version included bonus track "Digging Your Scene", a cover of [[Blow Monkeys]]' song. On ''Long Distance'', lush soundscapes and dense rhythm tracks were brought to the fore, and bouncy pop songs were outnumbered by moodier, more atmospheric songs like the standout single "Edge Of The Ocean". The latter along with "Lucy Doesn't Love You" got both videos and single releases. By this time, the band had also had found success on both the big and small screens (scoring the [[Farrelly Brothers]]’ ''[[Shallow Hal]]'', as well as having their songs featured prominently in numerous films and television shows). Chase and Schlesinger had also begun to receive attention for their work outside the band: Chase produced the debut album by [[France|French]] pop group [[Tahiti 80]], which was a hit in many countries and led to subsequent production work with several other groups; Schlesinger’s "other" band, [[Fountains of Wayne]], released two critically acclaimed records, and he also received an Oscar nomination for his title song to [[Tom Hanks]]' film ''[[That Thing You Do!]]'' ===''Guestroom''=== [[Image:Ivyguestroomposter.jpg|thumb|left|''Guestroom'' LP promotional poster.]] [[Image:Ivyletsgotobed.jpg|thumb|right|James Iha and Dominique Durand in the "Let's Go to Bed" video.]] Ivy released the ''Guestroom'' album on [[September 10]], [[2002]] on [[Minty Fresh]], an album containing ten of the group's favorite [[cover song]]s. Picking from several different eras, they reveal some of their sources of inspiration, and also display their ability to reinterpret many different types of songs in their own distinct way. Five of the ten songs on ''Guestroom'' were recorded during one solid line of sessions in New York. The remaining five tracks were recorded at different times over the course of Ivy’s career, but have for the most part been difficult to find, having been released only on limited-edition singles, compilations, or soundtracks. On ''Guestroom'', the band moves easily between decades and countries, jumping from 80’s classics like [[The Cure]]'s "[[Let's Go to Bed (The Cure song)|Let's Go to Bed]]" and the [[The House of Love|House Of Love]]'s "[[I Don't Know Why I Love You]]" to [[Steely Dan]]'s "[[Only A Fool Would Say That]]" and then over to [[Serge Gainsbourg]]'s "[[L'Anamour]]" (which previously could be found as a b-side on "I've Got a Feeling" single); from [[The Ronnettes]]' early 1960s classic "Be My Baby" to [[Papas Fritas]]' late 1990s gem "Say Goodbye". "Digging Your Scene" was also included on the album, and released in Japan and UK as a CD single. Video for "[[Let's Go to Bed (The Cure song)|Let's Go to Bed]]" has been shot, depicting Dominique and Andy in their [[NYC]] apartment, with Dominique not being able to sleep. She escapes home long after midnight and walks streets of New York City. [[James Iha]] joins her midthrough the video. The ''Lately'' EP was reissued in [[2003]] on [[Unfiltered Records]] with the same track-list as original. Ivy gained even wider recognition in [[2003]]/[[2004]] for their song "[[Worry About You]]" which has been used as the theme song of the [[Stephen King]] series ''[[Kingdom Hospital]]'' and in the pilot episode of the [[television]] mini-series ''[[The 4400]]''. ===''In the Clear''=== ''[[In the Clear]]'' was released on [[March 1]], [[2005]] on [[Nettwerk]]. [[Image:Intheclear.jpg|thumb|right|''In the Clear'' LP, released in 2005.]]When starting sessions for ''In The Clear'', the band tried to strike a balance between the immediacy of their early recordings and the careful sonic detailing of their more recent work. "Initially we talked about going back to more of a live band sound," explains Schlesinger, "but of course that wouldn’t have taken long enough." Chase elaborates, "We tried to capture the excitement of just playing together - on guitar or piano and drums – first. We would put down lots of raw, spontaneous ideas, and then the three of us would flesh them out over time, constantly adding or taking things away, but always trying to retain that initial energy." This method, while common for some bands, represented a totally new approach for Ivy, who in the past had written almost exclusively outside the studio; on ''In The Clear'', the writing and recording processes often blended together. Not every idea held up over time, or ultimately met Ivy’s songwriting standards. "There were some musical ideas that we really loved, but sometimes they didn’t fit the direction we were going or we couldn’t turn them into complete songs that I was comfortable singing," says Durand. "But many came together very quickly". The 10 songs on ''In The Clear'' vary in tempo and mood, and yet the record has a sense of continuity that is never lost - from the slow crescendo of the introductory "Nothing But The Sky" through visceral pop songs like "Thinking About You", "Tess Don't Tell" (with [[James Iha]] on lead guitar) and "I've Got You Memorized" to slinkier, subtler tracks like "Four In The Morning", "Ocean City Girl" and "Keep Moving". Many lyrics suggest internal narratives more than straightforward storytelling; themes of secrecy, isolation and escape resurface throughout the album. Ivy brought in legendary UK [[Record producer|producer]]/[[Audio engineering|mixer]] [[Steve Osborne]] ([[New Order]], [[Happy Mondays]], [[Starsailor (band)|Starsailor]], [[Elbow (band)|Elbow]]) for his first-ever New York sessions to mix seven of the tracks. It was Osborne's ability to make records sound both aggressive and spacious that attracted the group to his work. ''In The Clear'' also features guest appearances by friends like guitarists [[James Iha]], [[Jody Porter]] ([[Fountains of Wayne]]), [[Brazil]]ian string arranger Zé Luis ([[Bebel Gilberto]], [[Caetano Veloso]]), and former [[Girls Against Boys]] frontman [[Scott McLoud]], who duets with Durand on the closing track "Feel So Free". The album got even more warm reception than previous. "Thinking About You" got an animated promotional video clip, and it remains Ivy's second-most popular song. ==Film and TV work== ===Film work=== *''[[Numb]]'' (2007) - featuring "Thinking about You" from ''In the Clear'', and "Edge of the Ocean" from ''Long Distance''. *''[[There's Something About Mary]]'' (1998) - featuring "This is the Day" and "I Get the Message" from ''Apartment Life''. *''[[Me, Myself and Irene]]'' (2000) - featuring a cover of [[Steely Dan]]'s "Only a Fool Would Say That." *''[[Shallow Hal]]'' (2001) - the band produced score for the movie and contributed "Edge of the Ocean" and "I Think of You" from ''Long Distance''. *''[[Angel Eyes (film)|Angel Eyes]]'' (2001) - a [[Luis Mandoki]] film starring [[Jennifer López]], "Edge of the Ocean" was released on the official soundtrack. *''[[Orange County (movie)|Orange County]]'' (2002) - featuring "I've Got a Feeling" from ''Apartment Life''. *''[[Insomnia (2002 film)|Insomnia]]'' (2002) - a [[Christopher Nolan]] film starring [[Al Pacino]], "One More Last Kiss" from ''Long Distance'' included. ===TV work=== *''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' - "Edge of the Ocean" was used in Episode I.08 "Time will tell". *''[[Veronica Mars]]'' ([[UPN]] series) - "Edge of the Ocean" featured in episodes "Meet John Smith" and "One Angry Veronica", "Feel so Free" featured in "Clash of the Tritons" episode, as well as "Ocean City Girl" in "Ahoy, Mateys!". *''[[Roswell (TV series)|Roswell]]'' - "Undertow" is featured at the end of "Heart of Mine"; the band appeared as themselves in 2001 episode "To Have and to Hold" and performed "Edge of the Ocean". *''[[The 4400]]'' - "Worry About You" from ''Long Distance'' featured in the pilot episode. *''[[Kingdom Hospital]]'' - "Worry About You" was used as the themesong. *''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' - "Edge of the Ocean" featured in 2005 episode "Shake Your Groove" *''[[Pinoy Big Brother - Season 2]]'' - "Worry About You" featured in multiple episodes while showing Bruce and Wendy. *''[[LAX]]'' - "Nothing But the Sky" from ''In the Clear'' featured in the final episode of the series. *In a recent commercial for [[Senseo]] coffee makers the song "Edge of the Ocean" was used.[http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051214/FEATURES07/51213021/1011/ARCHIVES] *''[[Witchblade (TV series)|Witchblade]]'' - "Undertow" from ''Long Distance'' was used in episode 1x05 "Legion". * Felicity - Pilot and Last episode of Season 1. ==Influences== Ivy cite [[The Go-Betweens]], [[Burt Bacharach]], [[Jobim]], [[Orange Juice]], [[The Smiths]], [[Velvet Underground & Nico]], [[The Beatles]], [[Françoise Hardy]] as their influences, as well as other artists covered on "Guestroom". Dominique Durand's vocal technique and Parisian pronunciation is often compared in reviews with another French pop band singer [[Lætitia Sadier]] of [[Stereolab]]. ==Solo work== Schlesinger is also in the band [[Fountains of Wayne]]. Durand and Chase are also in the band [[Paco (band)|Paco]]. Chase also has a solo project called [[Brookville (Band)|Brookville]], which has released two albums of music. ==Discography== ===Albums=== <gallery> Image:Ivylately.jpg|<center>'''''[[Lately (EP)|Lately EP]]'''''<br/><center>([[1994 in music|1994]])<br/><center>[[Seed]] 95913-2<br/><center>[[CD]], [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]]<br/><center>Reissued in [[2003 in music|2003]] Image:Ivyrealistic2.jpg|<center>'''''[[Realistic (album)|Realistic]]'''''<br/><center>([[February 14]], [[1995]])<br/><center>[[Seed]] 14253-2<br/><center>[[CD]], [[Vinyl record|LP]], [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]] <!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Apartmentlife.jpg|<center>'''''[[Apartment Life]]'''''<br/><center>([[October 6]], [[1997]])<br/><center>[[Atlantic]] 83042-2<br/><center>[[CD]], [[Vinyl record|LP]], [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]]<br/><center>Remastered and reissued [[October 7]], [[1998]], and [[September 18]], [[2001]]. --> Image:Longdistance.jpg|<center>'''''[[Long Distance (album)|Long Distance]]'''''<br/><center>([[July 10]], [[2001]])<br/><center>[[Nettwerk]] 6700 30218-2<br/><center>[[CD]], [[Vinyl record|LP]], [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]]<br/><center>Released in Japan [[November 8]], [[2000]]. Image:Ivyguestroom.jpg|<center>'''''[[Guestroom]]'''''<br/><center>([[September 10]], [[2002]])<br/><center>[[Minty Fresh]] MF-45<br/><center>[[CD]], [[Vinyl record|LP]], [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]]<br/><center>Cover album. Image:Intheclear.jpg|<center>'''''[[In the Clear]]'''''<br/><center>([[March 1]], [[2005]])<br/><center>[[Nettwerk]] MF-45<br/><center>[[CD]], [[Vinyl record|LP]], [[Compact audio cassette|cassette]] </gallery> ===EPs/singles=== * ''[[Lately (Ivy)|Lately]]'' (1994) * ''[[I Hate December]]'' (1995) * ''[[Digging Your Scene]]'' (2002) ==External links== *[http://www.thebandivy.com Ivy homepage] *[http://www.myspace.com/ivy Ivy MySpace profile] *[http://www.sirensofsong.com/durand.htm Sirens of Song: Dominique Durand] *[http://community.livejournal.com/thebandivy Ivy fan community on LiveJournal] *[http://www.musicismydrug.com/artists/ivy.htm Ivy page at MusicIsMyDrug.com] *{{amg | id = 11:6gd7gjyrj6i9 | label = Ivy }} [[Category:American indie pop musical groups]] [[Category:New York musical groups]] [[es:Ivy (banda)]] [[fr:Ivy (musique)]] [[nl:Ivy (band)]]