In the Clear
Encyclopedia
In the Clear is an album released by the band Ivy
on March 1, 2005 on Nettwerk
.
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 producer
/mixer Steve Osborne
(New Order
, Happy Mondays
, Starsailor
, Elbow
) for his first-ever New York sessions to mix much of the record. 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 is probably the second most popular Ivy song.
Ivy (band)
Ivy is a New York City band composed of a trio of musicians, Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, and Andy Chase.-Lately and Realistic:...
on March 1, 2005 on Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
.
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
James Iha
James Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent...
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 producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
/mixer Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne is a multi-platinum selling British record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, such as New Order, Doves, U2 and KT Tunstall. During the 1990s, Osborne was half of the Perfecto Records team, a production and remix collaboration with Paul Oakenfold; the artists...
(New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
, Starsailor
Starsailor (band)
Starsailor is an English post-britpop band, formed in Leigh, Warrington and Greater Manchester. By 2009, they had four charting albums and ten Top 40 singles in the UK since 2001.-Early history:...
, Elbow
Elbow (band)
Elbow are an English rock band. They have played together since 1990 and recorded five studio albums, the most recent of which is Build a Rocket Boys!, released in March 2011...
) for his first-ever New York sessions to mix much of the record. 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
James Iha
James Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent...
, Jody Porter
Jody Porter
Jody Porter is an American musician. He is the guitarist of Grammy Award-nominated power pop band Fountains of Wayne. The band has released four major label albums, including Welcome Interstate Managers on Virgin Records in 2003, an RIAA-certified Gold LP. The album spawned the hugely popular U.S...
(Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
), Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian string arranger Zé Luis (Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto is a Brazilian popular singer often associated with bossa nova. She is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. Her uncle is singer/composer Chico Buarque...
, Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso , better known as Caetano Veloso, is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo which encompassed theatre, poetry and music in the 1960s,...
), and former Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys are an indie rock/post-hardcore band, originally forming in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and currently based in New York City.-Career:...
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 is probably the second most popular Ivy song.
Track listing
- "Nothing But the Sky" – 5:12
- "Thinking About You" – 4:13
- "Keep Moving" – 4:43
- "Tess Don't Tell" – 4:35
- "Four in the Morning" – 5:10
- "Corners of Your Mind" – 2:49
- "Clear My Head" – 3:30
- "I've Got You Memorized" – 3:48
- "Ocean City Girl" – 4:24
- "Feel So Free" – 4:58
Soundtracks
- "Feel So Free" was used in season 2, episode 1, of the ABC television hospital drama Grey's AnatomyGrey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
.