Scott Ivey’s debut EP Fair-Weather Friend is the first new release of the year that I have had the pleasure of listening to. Ivey has been working in the music industry for three decades, and released a handful of singles, but this EP marks his first solo album. And it’s nice to know that a musician can still surprise me.
The opening track “She’s Lying” starts out with a pop-acoustic beat that then develops into a distortion-driven chorus. There are ska influences, big band vibes, and a fantastic guitar solo. It also introduces listeners to Ivey’s impressive vocal range—which is further showcased in the next song, “Grow.” This power ballad-esque number demonstrates how Ivey has developed as both a musician and a person. He croons, “I’ve been down this road before, don’t want to be glorified, don’t want to justify the things that happen in my life, just want to have my peace, so leave me be.”
Skipping around a bit, “Miracle” and “Feels Like” exude 90s alt rock. Think Switchfoot with a little Bryan Adams flair. It’s comforting, familiar, and yet original at the same time. The titular track “Fair-Weather Friend” is definitely the highlight of the EP. Ivey and company take what they’ve only hinted at—lyrically, vocally, musically—and crank it up to an eleven.
Rather than scale it back at the end, Fair-Weather Friend goes out big with funky blues energy in the final track, “Reaching.” Reminiscent of Chris Stapleton and Marcus King, “Reaching” alludes to Scott Ivey’s influences but, like the rest of the album, it keeps his novelty front and center.
Track List:
- She’s Lying
- Grow
- Miracle
- Fair-Weather Friend
- Feels Like
- Reaching
Runtime: 23 minutes 51 seconds
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Reviewed by Anelise Haukaas
