Ivy - Long Distance

I really don't think this band has gotten the recognition that it deserves. Being a band that gets its music noticed by having tv shows air their songs at the "romantic moments" is not what I call "Record Breaking" but at least it brings in the listener to buy an album and hopefully this one in particular. Ivy is a dream pop group with 3 main members Andy Chase, Adam Schlesinger and Dominique Durand. Having 2 albums prior to this one, gained them popularity in the New York scene.

I'll first start off with a little bit about the singer. Dominique breaks the music with a softness that makes you float away into dreamland. Some might say she sounds like she never changes the tone or the feeling with her voice, but I think otherwise. She gets the point across perfectly with the help of her fellow band mates.

It was this album with a cover of the Blow Monkey's song "Digging Your Scene" and "Edge of The Ocean" that caused a stir among fans. "Edge Of The Ocean" is a slow ballad that sounds like a AM radio staple. One of those songs that has a easy sing-song "Sha La La" after the chorus. This was also used in many tv shows such as Roswell, Alias, Grey's Anatomy and the movie Shallow Hal. The upbeat "Digging Your Scene" with sweet summertime guitars playing in the back. Dom's vocals are serene and simple.

That's not the end of the good songs. Its the song "Disappointed" that I adore. The snappy drum beat and guitars fill the song with a haunted feeling. Mrs. Durand sounds so strong and sure of herself with the simplicity of the songs lyrics.
"While We're in Love" is a neat song with a heavy bass filling up the song and staying put throughout it. I would love to hear a remix of this song. "Lucy Doesn't Love You" is one of the best songs that screams rollickin' good fun. The song has a 60's feeling to it. Sounds like a song you just might have heard by The Association or early Chicago. Neat break with horns and a Motown piano trying to bust a move. Sure to put a smile on your face!

"I Think Of You" is another song with a great drum beat. Definately changes the mood towards the end of the album esp. with more slower songs near the end of the album. A song that sounds like its should be on the radio. Thats the overall feeling with this album. A familiarity with each song and makes you want to keep listening. I am glad I gave this album a second chance. I almost put it in the "Toss away/Exchange" pile but quickly pulled it back with a few more listens. This album should be listened to with care and tenderness, thats how Mrs. Durand pulls you to her.

a-ha: 2000 and Beyond

A lot of people know this group for one major hit. A-ha found fame with a song called "Take On Me" and a catchy video for it as the video alone propelled them to stardom."Take On Me" was the hit in America that sold them as stars and the second single "The Sun Always Shines On TV" followed. But it was the other way round for the Brits and the rest of Europe.
After that success, they had a lot to do to make a even successful second album. Not many people were forgiving - mostly the US and that's when A-ha saw their demise of pop icon status. People started to look to grunge and rock during the early '90's.

So it wasn't until 5 years ago, I heard a song that had a voice soothe my soul. It was soft and tender and I thought the voice sounded familiar but I brushed it off figuring I would never hear the song again and if I had found an album by this mystery voice, I'd most likely shelve it fast after the novelity of my soothing song. Fast forward to this year and my interest in
A-ha's whereabouts spiked when I realized I missed out on their very first album and the other songs it had to offer. What were they doing? Are they still together? I searched the internet and Yes, they were still together. After a hiatus in the mid '90s; I found they had released a new album in 2005, which was a 3 year gap between their last album in 2002. Well, they had been busy also with touring. Curiosity got the best of me and I hunted down a song or two. Which ended up with me buying their 2000 and 2005 releases.

I will start here with their 2000 release "Minor Earth, Major Sky," and it was the song "Velvet" that I had heard 5 years ago tug at my heart. A-ha's lead singer Morten Harket never sounded better and had aged gracefully, all of the members in fact. The album is pop and a chart topper at that. The album has more slower songs, but don't let that detier you from listening. "Velvet" was a song that was written by A-ha's guitarist Pal Waaktaar and with his wife Lauren Savoy for their band Savoy. The song serenades you about a woman who is like velvet, everything about her is velvet. The part that would be a chorus is not Morten singing, but the humming of the song's melody from a woman. Another song that is pure bliss is "I Wish I Cared" which was a internet only single the first of its kind. The song slowly creeps in and is slowly moving around you with a wish to be floating on clouds. The video is shot kind of like a ipod commercial with a shadow of Morten walking around a pink backround with a female presence. The beat is nice with the introduction of acoustic guitars during the chorus. The upbeat songs to hear are "Minor Earth, Major Sky". During the chours, the song gives you an emptiness wondering when you are going to touch down on earth, but end up with your feet on ground again with the reassureance of the guitars and drums breaking in again. The lyrics are simple but strong. "The Sun Never Shone That Day" sounds like it steals the drum beat of The Clash's 'Train in Vain', which makes it a classic song in my book. The title sounds sad, but it it guarantees you to keep smiling and tapping your foot along. Overall, this album is good and maybe to simple sounding to some, but it sure made them winners in Great Britian and even in The Guinness Book of World Records. Check out the song
"Summer Moved On" to hear Morten hold a note for 20.2 seconds!


2005 found them releasing "Analogue" which sounded much darker in comparison to "Minor Earth, Major Sky." The first single "Celice" talks lines of love that hurts, esp, with Mortens fallsetto during the chorus. The video for the song was shot in a bordello, making it be banned for the content. They really take advantage of the guitars for leading the way throughout the album unlike the drums and bass for the previous albums. The song that steals the album for me is a slower one, "Holy Ground" is compelling with a piano speaking from the gound up to the sky. The song was written by Magne Furuholmen, A-ha's keyboardist/guitarist a song about going your way and following your path where-ever it takes you. But the single "Analogue" shows that A-ha is truly here to stay and at the top of their game. It is the "Take On Me" of 2005. I think most
A-ha fans will agree with me.

What to Start With? Let's start at the Very Beginning! Letter A!

Review: Bryan Adams - Reckless

Back in 1984 a young Canadian blasted though the speakers with a rough and tumble voice. "I got my first real six string, bought it at the five and dime" came through to kids as an encouragement to start your very first band, complete with the arguments as to who played the best air guitar.

My first thought of this album was that it was an uptempo album with only one real slow ballad. Not that that's bad, just a crazy rush from beginning to end. The album starts off with "One Night Love Affair" which has some awsome guitar playing from Adams's side man Keith Scott. Title says it all, affairs are bad and can end up nasty. You loose your heart and head in the relationship and you don't want it to end.

The songs get better with "She's Only Happy when She's Dancin'" complete with hand claps and backing vocals from Lou Gramm (Foreigner) to the Chart Topper singles that follow "Run To You" with a signature guitar lick, "Heaven" the slow ballad with a beautiful piano arrangment provided by Adams himself, "Somebody" a rocker about wanting that person in your life, "Summer of '69" all about following your dreams even with everything changing around you, dont let go and last but not least
"It's Only Love" a duet with Tina Turner, I never get tired of hearing that song.

Some might say its too strong of an album, but for Mr. Adams, no. This is what Canada is about! :) Never mind that this is his 4th album, sold over 5 million copies and a rise to stardom.

For me a must have for your music collection, great album for a car ride and to get you pumped for anything in life. Heck! It just might get you pumped up for your own wedding! Adams sings with sincerity and from the heart. Oh, he did that already with an earlier tune "Straight From The Heart."