Music Review: Ivan & Alyosha, It’s All Just Pretend

By Melissa Bratcher

Seattle’s Ivan & Alyosha make thoughtful and inspiring music that resides at the crossroads of power pop and folk, but that doesn’t explain enough. Their latest, It’s All Just Pretend, is captivating, as well as familiar, but not derivative. It feels like a classic album but refreshingly new. It’s charming, but not twee.

Lead singer Tim Wilson has an appealing voice, able to dance around melodies nimbly, but never showing off. There’s a humility there that feels honest. His vocals on “Don’t Lose Your Love” are easy and relaxed, and the performance is surprisingly intimate. It’s just Wilson and an acoustic guitar, with some utterly lovely, straightforward lyrics.

I’m a sucker for good lyrics. There were moments on It’s All Just Pretend that moved me to tears. The closer, “Tears In Your Eyes,” is regretful and apologetic, and I found myself deeply invested in the couple in the song (also, I presumed they were the couple that Wilson is singing about in the previous tracks, so it was doubly crushing. I’m really pulling for those crazy kids!). It’s beautifully presented over washes of guitar.

Ivan & Alyosha (there is no one named either Ivan or Alyosha in the band, the name was taken from The Brothers Karamazov) begin the album with the bright and delightful “All This Wandering Around,” which features a percolating chorus. “Bury Me Deep” also has an especially strong, melodic chorus along with big fuzzy guitars and tight harmonies. “Drifting Away” is sweet, despite what sounds like a drum machine driving its futuristic doo wop beat, Hawaiian-tinted slide guitar, and dreamy, insistent chorus.

“Come Rain, Come Shine” feels a bit like Midlake’s “Van Occupanther” briefly, but only before the neo psychedelic layers of guitars and melty backup vocals kick in. The title track, “It’s All Just Pretend” is heart-wrenchingly perfect with sunny guitar, hopeful and instructive lyrics, and a handsome melody. The understated horns on “Oh This Love” help create an earworm that soars on a sing-along chorus.

There are no false moments on It’s All Just Pretend. The songwriting is on point, lyrically and musically, and each song feels like a smartly polished little gem. I’ve been listening to it for a week now and it shows no sign of getting tiresome.

It’s All Just Pretend was released by Dualtone Music on May 5.

Tour Dates:
Wed. May 13: Mississippi Studios / Portland, OR
Thu. May 14: Neurolux / Boise, ID
Fri. May 15: The State Room / Salt Lake City, UT
Sat. May 16: Lost Lake Lounge / Denver, CO
Mon. May 18: 17th Street Entry / Minneapolis, MN
Tue. May 19: Lincoln Hall / Chicago, IL
Thu. May 21: The Silver Dollar Room / Toronto, Canada
Sat. May 23: The Haunt / Ithaca, NY
Sun. May 24: The Ballroom at The Outer Space / Hamden, CT
Tue. May 26: Music Hall of Williamsburg / Brooklyn, NY
Wed. May 27: TT Bears Place / Boston, MA
Thu. May 28: Johnny Brenda’s / Philadelphia, PA
Fri. May 29: U Street Music Hall / Washington, DC
Sat. May 30: Local 506 / Chapel Hill, NC
Sun. May 31: PARK TAVERN / Atlanta, GA
Tue. Jun 2: High Watt / Nashville, TN
Wed. Jun 3: Saturn / Birmingham, AL
Fri. Jun 5: Three Links / Dallas, TX
Sat. Jun 6: Holy Mountain / Austin, TX
Mon. Jun 8: Valley Bar / Phoenix, AZ
Tue. Jun 9: The Casbah / San Diego, CA
Thu. Jun 11: The Roxy Theatre / West Hollywood, CA
Fri. Jun 12: The Independent / San Francisco, CA