Brookville Albums (2)
What The Critics Say
Andy Chase has always been the George Harrison of Ivy. Adam Schlesinger has Fountains of Wayne to show off his pop songcraft muscles, and with her Europurr of a voice and those nouvelle vague looks, Dominique Durand is always going to be the trio's focal point. In Ivy, Chase fades into the background almost by necessity, but his second album as the primary driving force behind Brookville suggests that the singer/songwriter simply isn't the extroverted type. These 13 songs are quietly melodic midtempo reveries, lacking the Continental lounge feel of Ivy's best work, but with a similarly effortless, unhurried feel. Even the cover of The The's angsty "Slow Emotion Replay" (one of those '80s college radio nuggets that's at the heart of Chase's musical universe) is delivered in a breathy wisp of a voice over a polite musical backing that sounds like 16 Lovers Lane-era Go-Betweens. Anyone who likes Ivy (or the solo work of James Iha and Eric Matthews, both of whom guest here) will like Brookville's stylish indie pop elegance, but Life in the Shade is a descriptively titled album that never quite bothers to break a sweat. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
'Wonderfully Nothing'
Release Date 1/1/2003
Tracks 13
Label Unfiltered
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
While Adam Schlesinger was rocking out with Fountains of Wayne's Welcome Interstate Managers in summer 2003, his Ivy cohort Andy Chase went solo with Brookville. This lush, atmospheric project had been in the works for a few years, giving Chase ample time to shape a smooth sound on the intimately sheer collection titled Wonderfully Nothing that is not unlike his Ivy pop doings. Singer/songwriter Eric Matthews, guitarist James Iha, former Gigolo Aunts guitarist Jon Skibic, and a few others joined in Brookville's quest in crafting an artistic dreamscape, and with Chase as their guide, Wonderfully Nothing turned out to be an inviting stroke of work. Chase's expansive musical palate is clearly center; he keeps things at low sonic level as each song warmly enfolds. Downbeat bits are loosely wrapped around elements of trip-hop on songs like "Sample From Heaven" and "Beautiful View." Trumpets rise on "Home," highlighting Chase's signature summery feel. "Justine," a sweet, imaginative tribute named for his daughter, floats with jazz accents for Brookville's most fleshed-out effort. Wonderfully Nothing is stylishly inviting and ironically a different twist for Chase. Those who favor his work with Ivy will be delighted with Brookville, and for those unknowing listeners, Wonderfully Nothing will charm them just the same. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
