Guestroom (album)

Last updated
Guestroom
Guestroomivy.jpg
Studio album by
Ivy
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2002
Recorded1994–2002
Studio
Various
Genre
Length35:42
Label
Producer
Ivy chronology
Long Distance
(2000)
Guestroom
(2002)
In the Clear
(2005)
Singles from Guestroom
  1. "Digging Your Scene"
    Released: May 27, 2002
  2. "Let's Go to Bed"
    Released: 2002

Guestroom is the fourth studio album by the band Ivy. It was released on September 10, 2002 by Minty Fresh and Unfiltered Records. Unlike the group's previous albums, the album consisted entirely of cover songs, without any new material. Some of the songs featured on the album were previously released as B-sides to the band's singles.

Contents

Two singles were released from Guestroom. Lead single, "Digging Your Scene" was previously recorded for Ivy's previous studio release, Long Distance (2001), but an updated version appeared on this album for the single release. "Let's Go to Bed" was released as the final single for the album in late 2002. Another song, "I Guess I'm Just a Little Too Sensitive", was also previously recorded on their debut extended play, Lately .

Upon release, Guestroom featured mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised the covers included on the album. Dominique Durand's vocals were also praised for being "wispy" and "warm".

The Japanese edition of Guestroom was reissued on April 18, 2015, in the United States by Minty Fresh.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Exclaim! Mixed [2]

Guestroom received generally positive reviews from critics. MacKenzie Wilson of AllMusic praised Ivy for the "divine picks, particularly "I Don't Know Why I Love You", further adding that "Guestroom is an added bonus for new and old fans alike". [1] In a divided review, Noel Dix of Exclaim! stated that "sadly, this is not the follow-up to stunning Long Distance", but later added that "the real treat of Guestroom is the stunning manipulation of "Be My Baby". [2]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger, except "Be My Baby", which is also produced by Gary Maurer.

Guestroom– Standard edition [3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Let's Go to Bed" The Cure 4:16
2."Kite" Nick Heyward Nick Heyward3:13
3."Say Goodbye"
  • Shivika Asthana
  • Keith Gendel
  • Tony Goddess
Papas Fritas 3:40
4."Streets of Your Town" The Go-Betweens 3:37
5."I Don't Know Why I Love You" Guy Chadwick The House of Love 2:48
6."Only a Fool Would Say That" Steely Dan 3:00
7."Digging Your Scene"Robert Howard The Blow Monkeys 3:40
8."L'Anamour" Serge Gainsbourg Serge Gainsbourg2:36
9."Be My Baby" The Ronettes 4:41
10."I Guess I'm Just a Little Too Sensitive" Edwyn Collins Orange Juice 4:11
Total length:35:42
Guestroom– 2015 Record Store Day edition [4] [5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
11."Let's Go to Bed"
  • Laurence Tolhurst
  • Robert Smith
The Cure4:07
12."Cruel" Paddy McAloon Prefab Sprout 4:20
Total length:44:09

Personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Guestroom liner notes [6] and Andy Chase's discography. [7]

Release history

RegionDateLabelRef.
United StatesSeptember 10, 2002 Minty Fresh, Unfiltered Records
Spain Bittersweet Records
JapanMinty Fresh, Imperial Records
United StatesApril 18, 2015Minty Fresh

Related Research Articles

Ivy was an American indie pop band composed of Andy Chase, Adam Schlesinger, and Dominique Durand. They were active between 1994 and 2012.

<i>Apartment Life</i> 1997 studio album by Ivy

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<i>In the Clear</i> 2005 studio album by Ivy

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<i>Long Distance</i> (Ivy album) 2000 studio album by Ivy

Long Distance is the third studio album by the American band Ivy. It was released on November 8, 2000, in Japan, while the US version was released on July 10, 2001, by Nettwerk. A departure from Ivy's previous studio albums Realistic (1995) and Apartment Life (1997), Long Distance was influenced by new wave, but maintained Ivy's signature blend of indie pop and indie rock music. Ivy collaborated with long-time producer Peter Nashel for two of the album's tracks, while the rest were written and produced entirely by members Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger.

<i>All Hours</i> 2011 studio album by Ivy

All Hours is the sixth and final studio album by American band Ivy, released by Nettwerk on September 20, 2011. Following 2005's In the Clear, the members took a hiatus from music, allowing Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger to work on side projects and Dominique Durand and Chase to begin raising a family. After reuniting in 2008, they started work on a project exploring a new sound following concerns that their songs would become obsolete and unimaginative due to their break. All Hours features 11 songs written and produced by Chase and Schlesinger; they take influence from electropop, indie pop and synth-pop music. Unlike their previous albums, All Hours experiments more with electronic music and contains tracks reminiscent of the music from the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edge of the Ocean</span> 2001 single by Ivy

"Edge of the Ocean" is a song by the American band Ivy for their third studio album, Long Distance (2000). Lead singer Dominique Durand wrote the song with band members Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, who both produced it. It was released as the album's lead single in the United States in June 2001, through Nettwerk. Various physical singles were distributed throughout the following year, in addition to an adult alternative airplay release in the US. The song is an electronic-inspired trip hop pop ballad with minimal and simplistic lyrics. Durand's vocals were described as childlike and compared to those of Karen Carpenter. American musician Michael Hampton, a member of Durand and Chase's other band Paco, contributes to the track's instrumentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Doesn't Love You</span> 2000 single by Ivy

"Lucy Doesn't Love You" is a song by American band Ivy for their third studio album, Long Distance (2000). Lead singer Dominique Durand wrote the song with band members Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, who both produced it. In 2000, it was chosen as the album's lead single in Japan and distributed via Chase's Unfiltered Records label. Musically, the song was described as a melodic, horn-led trip hop and synth-pop track. Its lyrics find a woman confronting a lovestruck man who desires a different woman, named Lucy, who is not in love with him. American musician Eric Matthews performs trumpet on "Lucy Doesn't Love You", alongside Paco member Michael Hampton, who contributes to the song's instrumentation.

"Disappointed" is a song by American indie rock band Ivy. It was released as the second single from their third studio album, Long Distance (2000). It was released exclusively in the United States on July 10, 2001 by Nettwerk. The release was simultaneous with the release of '"Edge of the Ocean". The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, while production was handled by the latter two and Peter Nashel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is the Day (Ivy song)</span> 1998 single by Ivy

"This Is the Day" is a song by American band Ivy, included on their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). It was released as the record's third single in the United States on October 19, 1998 by 550 Music following its inclusion in the 1998 American comedy film There's Something About Mary. The group had just been dropped by Atlantic Records but eventually signed to 550 Music after they reissued the parent album. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, with the latter two producing it. It is a pop and alternative pop song that features the use of horns and was compared to the works of the Smiths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Got a Feeling (Ivy song)</span> 1997 single by Ivy

"I've Got a Feeling" is a song by American band Ivy, recorded for their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). It was released as the record's second single in the United States and Australia on October 7, 1997 and 1998 by Atlantic Records, respectively. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, with the latter two plus Lloyd Cole and Peter Nashel handling its production. It is a pop song accompanied by light vocals and a horn section, with Durand gently singing about falling in love, over several layers of guitars and relaxed harmonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Hate December</span> Single by American band Ivy

"I Hate December" is a song by American band Ivy, released on January 12, 1996 by Scratchie Records. The track came from the band's first extended play, Lately (1994). It was written and produced by Andy Chase and Adam Schlesinger, while Dominique Durand also contributed to the lyrics and Peter Nashel handled additional production. While the version that appeared on Lately was not released as a commercial single, a remix was created and distributed as a CD single instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Know Anything</span> 1999 single by Ivy

"You Don't Know Anything" is a song by American indie rock band Ivy. It was released by Atlantic Records on April 29, 1999 as the fourth and final single from their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). The single was made available exclusively in Europe and featured the same two B-sides as previous single, "This Is the Day", which had been released by 550 Music in Austria. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase while production was handled by the latter two and Peter Nashel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Enough (Ivy song)</span> 1994 single by Ivy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful (Ivy song)</span> 1995 promotional single by Ivy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Best Thing (Ivy song)</span> 1997 single by Ivy

"The Best Thing" is a song by American band Ivy on their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). Released on September 12, 1997 by Atlantic Records, it was the band's major-label debut single and served as the parent album's lead single. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase, and was produced by the latter two. A pop song, "The Best Thing" is accompanied by several guitars and a keyboard.

<i>Lately</i> (EP) 1994 EP by Ivy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distant Lights (song)</span> 2011 single by Ivy

"Distant Lights" is a song by American indie rock band Ivy. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album, All Hours (2011). It was issued in the United States on June 7, 2011 as a digital download by Nettwerk. The single was written and produced by Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digging Your Scene</span> 1986 song performed by The Blow Monkeys

"Digging Your Scene" is a song recorded by English band The Blow Monkeys for their second studio album, Animal Magic (1986). The single was released in February 1986 as the second one from the parent record. It was written by lead singer Dr. Robert, while Howard, Peter Wilson, and Adam Moesley produced it. Musically a pop, soul, and jazz song, "Digging Your Scene" discusses the hatred and disgust that is associated with individuals who have HIV and AIDS. Several media professionals felt the song's subject matter would be the subject of criticism.

References

  1. 1 2 Wilson, MacKenzie. "Ivy - Guestroom". AllMusic . Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Dix, Noel (January 1, 2006). "Ivy - Guestroom". Exclaim! . Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  3. Guestroom (Liner notes/ CD booklet). Ivy (band). Minty Fresh Records (Barcode: 7 -9662-70045-2 0). 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. Guestroom (Liner notes/ CD booklet). Ivy (band). Minty Fresh Records (Barcode: 7 -96627-00451-3). 2015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. "The Band Ivy: Discog" . Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  6. Guestroom (liner notes). Ivy (band). Minty Fresh. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. Chase, Andy. "Discography". andychase.com. Retrieved December 7, 2015.