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It’s not that Better Than Ezra ever went away. It’s just that their last album,
2001’s Closer, never really got off the ground. Unfortunately for BTE, it’s
because their last major label release, How Does Your Garden Grow, was
such a fan favorite and was a hard act to follow. Now on Artemis, one of the
larger indie labels with some marketing juice, Before the Robots should
satisfy the most fickle of BTE’s existing fans and help them continue to build
that fan base. The songs are simply some of the best material that this New
Orleans-based band has ever released.
“Burned” is vintage Better Than Ezra, guitar-driven pop that is melodic
equivalent of cotton candy. And true to form, BTE has some more laid back songs
that bring to mind the modern rock movement of the nineties, when the band made
its biggest impact. “Daylight” is one of those songs, and its breezy nature
could have made it a hit song even thirty years ago. “A Lifetime,” the first
single, is a re-release from Closer, and a touching yet lighthearted song
about the untimely death of a friend. “It’s Only Natural” (not a cover of the
Crowded House song) has a shuffling groove and “Overcome” is a loop-filled piece
that at times sounds a little too much like U2’s “One.”
“Special” is a moody song that really showcases the instantly recognizable voice
of lead singer Kevin Griffin. “American Dream” might be at home on a Tom Petty
record, and “Our Last Night” is another chunk of ear candy. The hit parade
continues with the funky riff-driven “A Southern Thing” and simply funky
“Juicy,” then closes out with the powerful “Breathless.”
Bands like Better Than Ezra tend to stick around and/or resurface every now and
then, because of Griffin’s unmistakable voice and because they keep churning out
good records. They also have a road warrior mentality about touring, which puts
them in front of their fan base constantly. In the case of Before the Robots,
let’s just say this album will be really hard to top. Fans, get ready to feed
your iPods.
~Mike Farley
mfarley@bullz-eye.com
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