IVY

Adam Schlesinger, who is one-half of Fountains of Wayne, makes up one-third of Ivy. He is not the focus of this latter group, however; that would have to be lead singer Dominique Durand, whose voice is as smooth and cool as her name. ("Ivy," by the way, should not be confused with ska-punkers "Operation Ivy" or folk-popsters "Ida.")

Ivy certainly aren't as in-your-face-catchy as Fountains of Wayne; their sound merges pop with St. Etienne-esque soundscapes. My favorite songs by them tend to lean a bit more to the "pop" side, as may be evident below....

[MP3] [left-click] "Corners of Your Mind" [from the LP In the Clear, 2005]

[MP3] [left-click] "Kite" [from the LP Guestroom, 2002]

[MP3] [left-click] "Edge of the Ocean" [from the LP Long Distance, 2001]

[MP3] [left-click] "The Best Thing" [from the LP Apartment Life, 1997]