Long Distance adds some production tricks and subtle electronic flourishes to the polished pop
Ivy perfected on
Apartment Life but forgets the hooks and melodies that made their second album so delightful. Unfortunately,
Long Distance's airy songs breeze past without many distinguishing characteristics. The album's slick synths and trip-hop beats are dated -- even trip-popsters like
Morcheeba and
Sneaker Pimps abandoned this sound years ago. "Lucy Doesn't Love You"'s sassy brass and lilting melody suggest a more satisfying song than it delivers, but the glossy, busy production smothers songs like "One More Last Kiss" and the seductive, bossa nova-tinged "Let's Stay Inside"; both need a more intimate approach. However, a handful of songs display some spirit and personality: "Disappointed"'s taut rhythm and slinky guitars provide a sleekly sexy backdrop for
Dominique Durand's wistful vocals, and the shock of hearing some distorted guitars on "Blame it on Yourself" makes it memorable for that reason alone. Covering
the Blow Monkeys' "Digging Your Scene" might have been an ironic move, but it's a highlight, due to its superior songwriting. Though "While We're in Love"'s poignant trip-hop actually works, the blasé, lovelorn lyrics -- "We know it won't last forever/Because we're not meant to be together" -- sound tired.
Long Distance's successful moments make its well-groomed monotony especially frustrating:
Ivy polished these songs to a fare-thee-well and invited guests like
James Iha and
Eric Matthews to play on them, yet they couldn't give them more individuality or emotion. Ultimately, it's a "tasteful" album: vaguely hip background music for coffeehouses, soundtracks, and anyone else looking for a veneer of coolness. No one's asking
Ivy to play lo-fi noise-rock, but
Long Distance indicates that they're satisfied with trendy prettiness instead of looking for lasting beauty. ~ Heather Phares