Guest Room
Ivy's decision to stick entirely to covers on their fifth album probably has much to do with the pregnancy of chanteuse Dominique Durand. But despite the fact that the band members didn't write a single note, they have made the 10 songs collected here their own, giving offbeat classics from sources as disparate as brainy punstersPapas Fritas,Serge Gainsbourg, andKate BushIvy's own sophisticated, moody spin. If you weren't familiar withSteely Dan's "Only a Fool Would Say That," you'd swear that Durand, guitarist Andy Chase, and bassist Adam Schlesinger cooked it in their New York studio, giving the mellow rocker heretofore unimagined elegance. This outstanding, intelligent collection makes one wonder why the band isn't more popular.--Jaan Uhelszki