Posts Tagged ‘This Is Ivy League’

French Horn Rebellion - “Up All Night”

By John Michael Cassetta • Aug 20th, 2008 • Category: Music, The Daily Dic

Chicago/NY duo French Horn Rebellion recently did a remix of a band we featured a little while ago, This Is Ivy League (we included the track below). But the band, which features the Brothers Perlick-Molinari, David you you might know as the producer of first MGMT EP, also have a brand new full-length out now, which they’re supporting with a tour this fall.

I don’t know a whole lot about the band, and I was quite honestly a little disappointed when their music didn’t include any (identifiable) french horns, but their music is certainly fun, and made me dance a little bit in my desk chair, which is enough for me. Check out the track “Up All Night” from the new album (which sounds like a seizure-laced acid trip) and their remix of “London Bridges” (which sounds like the end credits to a Sega Genesis game) after the jump.

They won’t be playing in Austin, but they will be through Dallas if anyone up North is interested, at The Door on August 30th. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go play more John Madden Football ‘92.

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Album Review: This Is Ivy League - This Is Ivy League

By John Michael Cassetta • May 22nd, 2008 • Category: Album Review, Music

Feel good albums are a tricky thing. Every time I put one on, I dig all over it for a couple of listens, and then I feel kind of dirty for listening to something so obviously happy. No matter what’s getting your goat-gears a-grindin’, I can assure you that This is Ivy League will cheer you up, that’s a given. From the introductory cymbal roll of “The Richest Kids” to the fleeting organ vibrato that closes “Don’t Waste Your Love On Me,” the soul of this record is sunny and cheery, like watching a parade go by outside your mid-town hotel room window. But dare you sacrifice your dignity to listen to acoustic pop? Dare you?

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The Daily Dic: This is Ivy League - “The Richest Kids”

By John Michael Cassetta • May 15th, 2008 • Category: Music, The Daily Dic

Like everybody else, I nabbed a copy of Vampire Weekend when it first came out. And regardless of how any of us feel about it now, there are times when all I want to do is cue up “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” throw open the windows and just relax in the summer air. For some reason, the rest of the album never quite did it for me. Well, to get the summer rolling, I’ve found the perfect replacement, the perfect upgrade even. They’re even from New York, and the Ivy League… sorta.

If you remember back in 2006, a band called This is Ivy League released a single called “London Bridges” that wowed critics and audiences alike…and then disappeared. Well that band is back, this time with a full self-titled release, which includes a reworking of “London Bridges” and this gem “The Richest Kids” (which, I assume, coming from New York City means a lot). In the song, which you can download below, the band effectively cross a Belle & Sebastian melody with an element of bliss found in acoustic guitars, handclaps and shakers. Like I said, it’s open-window music. Hell, you might even want to remove the screen.

The album came out about a month and a half ago now, but give yourself a chance to warm up to your new favorite band this summer, trust me you won’t be regrettin’ it come August.

As always, grab the tunes after the jumposaurus.

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