This self-proclaimed "acoustic pop rock" band hailing from Richmond, VA has all the chops of lyrical genius reminiscent of Pete Wentz, without the snarky social commentary. The Jim Ivins Band EP starts out with "Fall Flat," whose tempo forces Jim Ivins to almost spit out some of the lyrics like he can't get the words out fast enough. The lyrics are very honest, especially "when it comes down to it, I just want to be your friend." The instrumentation in "Back to Reality" of the guitar and drums almost drown out everything else, which almost compromises the integrity of the song, but the chorus manages to hold its own. The Jim Ivins Band follows that with a hook in "The Chance" that is poetic alliteration at its most eloquent "I'll wait for the chance to be entranced by you again." "Every Day's Another Goodbye" plays out like a love letter, with a melancholy melody that shows off their acoustic roots. The EP ends with "How To Hold On," possibly their strongest track, both lyrically and musically. The entire album is a good sampling of their sound and it's definitely worth a listen if you like A Rocket to the Moon or Plain White T's.
Most of their songs center on heartbreak or the wishful thinking of second chances, so I'm assuming it's from recent personal experience, which makes the songs have that much more depth to them. They're still a young-sounding band, and while they might not be simple enough to take off on radio necessarily, The Jim Ivins Band has the potential to become one of those bands you cherish listening to.
Song most likely to get stuck in your head: "How to Hold On"
3.5 out of 5 by Freelancer: Connie Redfield