Thriving Ivory

Thriving Ivory's self-titled debut should be filed next to AC dolls (and fellow San Franciscans) Train. It's set apart by the shrieking sentimentalism of vocalist Clayton Stroope, who recalls '80s glam balladeers who were man enough to cry -- or at least sing in a really, really high voice. No cliche is left unused: Things are "cold as ice," people have "hearts up in flames" and "every day's the first of the rest of your life." Under the cheese lie certain charms, but the same result might be achieved by playing "November Rain" on repeat.