In 1997, I got Apartment Life by Ivy on the day it was released. In the interim since the band's 1995 record, Realistic not only had band member Adam Schlesinger already achieved some success with his other band, Fountains of Wayne, but the sound of this trio had progressed. Things were slicker on Apartment Life, and while still indie, it felt then a more mainstream offering. Still, having heard the new reissue, out on vinyl for the first time ever as of today from Bar/None Records, I've got to say that maybe I was a bit too hard on this one way back in 1997.
From the modern rock heft of single "The Best Thing" onwards, this is a more assured release from Dominique Durand, Andy Chase, and Adam Schlesinger. Apartment Life, with production credits for a bunch of folks (including Lloyd Cole), is bright and shiny, the product of a lot of people determined to break this band in a big way. That the album succeeds as much as it does is a testament to the talents of those involved. "Never Do That Again" and "You Don't Know Anything" are all big hooks and radio-friendly surfaces, with "I Get the Message" and "I've Got a Feeling" being closer in vibe to the earlier numbers from Ivy. "Quick, Painless and Easy" stands out even more now for the way it so effortlessly seems to blend the modern rock and indie strands of this band's sound.
Apartment Life holds up very well, and only seems less the band's high point if one is intent on comparing it to Realistic. This new reissue sounds fantastic, and that helps to earn this a reappraisal too, as the album sounds warmer than it did before. The textures might be smooth, but there's a real warmth here now that wasn't quite so obvious on the first issue of this release. Two bonus cuts round out this set: the shuffling "Sleeping Late" and the languid "Sweet Mary", both good, if more DIY than the rest of this glistening 1997 set.
Apartment Life by Ivy is out today via Bar/None.
[Photo: Philippe Garcia]