Darren McLeod
01/17/06, 01:36 PM
Ivory - Ivory EP
Release Date: November 13, 2005
Record Label: N/A
The boys in Ivory, as their name suggests, play a style of music centred around the eighty-eight keys of a piano. Their lush, piano-driven melodies land them under the umbrella of pop-rock, their sound reminiscent of Copeland and Jimmy Eat World (particularly the former). This unsigned Wisconsin quartet has been working diligently as of late, and the fruit of their labours is this self-titled EP.
The EP begins with "Don't Go," a song themed around -- what else? -- the loss of love. A popular lyrical theme throughout the EP, this seemingly cliché topic manages to sidestep tediousness in the sincerity of its execution. The lyrics never seem forced or contrived, and the vocal range displayed by singer Nathaniel Swokowski manages to make every word sung seem genuine. His voice shifts subtly from powerful ballads to gentle falsettos, becoming a centrepiece for the disc.
However, that's not to say that Swokowski's voice is the only highlight here. No, all of the musicians show their competence throughout, and the alluring melodies they craft are what truly propel Ivory's sound. Take, for example, the touching "There She Goes," one of the strongest of the six on here. The percussion, guitar, bass, piano, and vocal harmonies all coalesce into a beautiful whole, every aspect as strong as the others. The honesty of the lyrics shines through as well, as the band questions God's actions (or, rather, inaction) in a time of tragedy.
If the album suffers from any particular problem, it would have to be a slight abundance of repetition; if the album suffers from any particular problem, it would have to be a slight abundance of repetition -- notice how that seemed redundant? Well, this little dilemma plagues Ivory's EP, although to a lesser extent. Some songs' verses and choruses sound very similar to others on the disc, particularly in "A Song To Sing." Though it is a charming song, it repeats the words "sing, sing with me, a song to sing" a few too many times, which becomes wearisome. These are minor problems that are mostly exclusive to the one track, yet on a six-song EP they shouldn't be so apparent.
If you were a fan of Copeland's Beneath Medicine Tree, and are looking for something in a similar vein, then this EP is for you. The talent is here in spades, and once they tweak their songwriting and find a bit more variation, Ivory could be the next big thing.
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Band Website: http://www.ivoryband.com/
Band MP3s: http://www.purevolume.com/ivory
Release Date: November 13, 2005
Record Label: N/A
The boys in Ivory, as their name suggests, play a style of music centred around the eighty-eight keys of a piano. Their lush, piano-driven melodies land them under the umbrella of pop-rock, their sound reminiscent of Copeland and Jimmy Eat World (particularly the former). This unsigned Wisconsin quartet has been working diligently as of late, and the fruit of their labours is this self-titled EP.
The EP begins with "Don't Go," a song themed around -- what else? -- the loss of love. A popular lyrical theme throughout the EP, this seemingly cliché topic manages to sidestep tediousness in the sincerity of its execution. The lyrics never seem forced or contrived, and the vocal range displayed by singer Nathaniel Swokowski manages to make every word sung seem genuine. His voice shifts subtly from powerful ballads to gentle falsettos, becoming a centrepiece for the disc.
However, that's not to say that Swokowski's voice is the only highlight here. No, all of the musicians show their competence throughout, and the alluring melodies they craft are what truly propel Ivory's sound. Take, for example, the touching "There She Goes," one of the strongest of the six on here. The percussion, guitar, bass, piano, and vocal harmonies all coalesce into a beautiful whole, every aspect as strong as the others. The honesty of the lyrics shines through as well, as the band questions God's actions (or, rather, inaction) in a time of tragedy.
If the album suffers from any particular problem, it would have to be a slight abundance of repetition; if the album suffers from any particular problem, it would have to be a slight abundance of repetition -- notice how that seemed redundant? Well, this little dilemma plagues Ivory's EP, although to a lesser extent. Some songs' verses and choruses sound very similar to others on the disc, particularly in "A Song To Sing." Though it is a charming song, it repeats the words "sing, sing with me, a song to sing" a few too many times, which becomes wearisome. These are minor problems that are mostly exclusive to the one track, yet on a six-song EP they shouldn't be so apparent.
If you were a fan of Copeland's Beneath Medicine Tree, and are looking for something in a similar vein, then this EP is for you. The talent is here in spades, and once they tweak their songwriting and find a bit more variation, Ivory could be the next big thing.
---
Band Website: http://www.ivoryband.com/
Band MP3s: http://www.purevolume.com/ivory