All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

E! Online

The sophisticated retro-pop sound, dreamy melodies and soft electronic beats of Ivy do more to further international relations than any George W. Bush visit could ever hope to.

Read Full Review >

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Simultaneously exciting and relaxing.

Read Full Review >

Billboard

Like British counterpart St. Etienne, Ivy deftly merges melancholic tales of the heart with happy-go-lucky beats.

Read Full Review >

Mojo

It finds the group's estimable strengths consolidated as never before. [Jun 2005, p.112]

All Music Guide

It's refined and focused, but also sexy and intimate.

Read Full Review >

Entertainment Weekly

It'll remind you of St. Etienne. [4 Mar 2005, p.75]

Paste Magazine

Filled with dreamy pop gems. [#14, p.105]

Under The Radar

The second half loses some of the A-side's steam, but overall, the album is a great diversion. [#9]

Urb

Finds them recapturing the magic. [May 2005, p.92]

Trouser Press

Introduces a delectable bit of shoegazery energy and distortion to sharpen up the lulling Ivy groove.

Read Full Review >

Pitchfork

The album tries to conjure the anchorlessness of travel, but instead it sounds oddly weightless, floating by pleasantly but unobtrusively and rarely demanding your attention.

Read Full Review >

Filter

Doesn't offer enough lyrical depth to ensure the album's ultimate longevity. [#14, p.104]

PopMatters

Lyrics are far and away the album's weakest point, consisting more often than not in pat, stock-sounding phrases.

Read Full Review >

Blender

Textured mood music. [Apr 2005, p.119]

Lost At Sea

Everything goes smoothly on In the Clear, with no real highs or lows, so to speak, and as such it unrolls without much fanfare or energy.

Read Full Review >

Prefix Magazine

Once you get past the initial, pleasing familiarity, though, In the Clear becomes a decidedly middling listening experience.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Melodie M gave it a9:
Mixes the great pop sound of Apartment Life with the lovely dreaminess of Long Distance. Definitly my favorite Ivy record to date. The orchestration on this record is beautiful.

Vince H. gave it a7:
Have been a huge Ivy fan for years now, wearing out my "Long Distance" and "Aparrment Life". Having kept myself busy with side projects like Brookville, it's great to have a new album from this excellent and highly underrated group. These guys crafted some of the smartest and catchiest pop music of the 90's, yet the majority of people have no idea about them. This is a decent album at best. Dominique Durand still sounds great and these guys know how to write great pop songs, but this album is less of the soft, delicate, french-type pop I loved, and is a bit more dancier, fastier, some songs here sound like they could be taken off a St. Etienne album. Ivy fans will love it, but newcomers should get Apartment Life and go from there.

Karl H gave it a10:
Classic Ivy. Why isn't this band more well known?!

Music

Upcoming &Recent Releases

In The Clear

Album Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases