You Don't Know Anything

"You Don't Know Anything" is a song by American indie rock band Ivy. It was released by Atlantic Records on April 29, 1999 as the fourth and final single from their second studio album, Apartment Life (1997). The single was made available exclusively in Europe and featured the same two B-sides as previous single, "This Is the Day", which had been released by 550 Music in Austria. The track was written by Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase while production was handled by the latter two and Peter Nashel.

"You Don't Know Anything"
A woman and man sit in a chair in a small kitchen while another man is shown brushing his teeth in a nearby bathroom
Single by Ivy
from the album Apartment Life
ReleasedApril 29, 1999 (1999-04-29)
Recorded1997 (1997)
StudioThe Place, Duotone Studios, Compositions
(New York City)
Genre
Length3:45
LabelAtlantic Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Andy Chase
  • Adam Schlesinger
  • Peter Nashel
Ivy singles chronology
"This Is the Day"
(1998)		 "You Don't Know Anything"
(1999)		 "Lucy Doesn't Love You"
(2000)

Released alongside "This Is the Day", "You Don't Know Anything" received promotion by Atlantic Records after the former track was included on the soundtrack for the 1998 film, There's Something About Mary. The recording received generally favorable reviews from music critics who compared the song to the works of Irish rock group My Bloody Valentine.

Background and composition

"You Don't Know Anything" was written by Ivy band members Dominique Durand, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase. The production of the track was handled by Chase and Schlesinger, with additional production provided by Peter Nashel. Musically, "You Don't Know Anything" is a pop rock/indie rock song, also incorporating elements of indie pop and guitar accords. Lyrically, the song discusses a lover being "clueless" and "in the wrong".[1]

The single was heavily compared to My Bloody Valentine; in their review of the track, Sputnikmusic stated that it "comes off like a My Bloody Valentine song with intelligible vocals, with a sliding, reverb heavy hook and pummeling drums",[2] while AllMusic writer Jack Rabid drew similar comparisons.[1] Patrick Carmosino of West Net stated that with "You Don't Know Anything", Ivy "have an indie-ethic rock side that compliments their pop sensibilities to the tee".[3]

Release

The recording was released simultaneously with the release of the single "This Is the Day"; this occurred after the latter track was featured in the 1998 film, There's Something About Mary.[4] "You Don't Know Anything" was released as a CD single exclusively in European countries; the CD included two B-side tracks, "Sleeping Late" and "Sweet Mary".[5]

Critical reception

"You Don't Know Anything" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thompson of The A.V. Club praised the track and Apartment Life for "sound[ing] slickly pretty and mannered".[6] AllMusic named the song "a knockout" and praised it for allowing "the guitars [to] get mean".[1] Reviewer Scott Floman was more mixed with his review, finding the track to "pass by pleasantly but unremarkably".[7]

Track listing
European CD single[5]
No.TitleLength
1."You Don't Know Anything"3:45
2."Sleeping Late"2:30
3."Sweet Mary"3:14

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from "You Don't Know Anything" liner notes and Andy Chase's discography.[8][9]

Recording
  • Recorded at The Place, New York City; Duotone Studios, New York City; and Compositions, New York City
Personnel

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Europe April 29, 1999[5] CD single Atlantic Records

References
  1. Rabid, Jack. "Ivy – Apartment Life". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  2. EndSerenading (July 13, 2010). "Ivy – Apartment Life (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  3. Carmosino, Patrick. "Ivy, Apartment Life – Patrick Carmosino". West Net. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  4. Wilson, MacKenzie. "Ivy Biography". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  5. "The Band Ivy". The Band Ivy. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  6. Thompson, Stephen (March 29, 2002). "Ivy: Apartment Life". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  7. Floman, Scott. "Ivy Apartment Life (Atlantic '97) Rating: B+". Scott's Rock and Soul Album Reviews. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  8. This Is the Day (Liner notes). Ivy (band). New York City, New York: 550 Music. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Chase, Andy. "Discography". Andy Chase. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
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