Friction, Baby

by

Better Than Ezra

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Better Than Ezra deserve a lot of credit. Why? Because they work. Hard. When I saw them in 2001 I had the impression that it could have been their first time on the road, they seemed so enthusiastic and grateful that their job is to rock out every night. This, their first major release and second album overall, is moodier and more erratic, stylistically, than the more consistent country-rock of Deluxe. The lyrics are a shade darker, the guitars are louder and grittier, and the whole impact is cranked up a notch. Considering this album came out in 1996, you can tell that they were influenced by what was going on around them in the music world. Still, they managed to display flexibility, a willingness to change with the times, yet still stubbornly original enough to stand on their own two feet. A rare compromise in mainstream music, and another reason why I think Better Than Ezra are the best pop band ever.

The material is deceptively layered. A first listen might give the impression that some songs were meant to be instant hits while others are simply filler. But further listens will reveal that some songs take multiple listens before their beauty is revealed. Songs like "Long Lost" and "Hung the Moon," I didn't understand until several years after I'd had the album. Every time you think you've uncovered everything there is here, something else comes to light. This album stays fresh through the test of time and has a stunningly high replay value - I can't count how many times I've listened through and not been bored. This is the album where Kevin and the boys made their declaration: they were here to stay. And they are still here.

The great thing about Better Than Ezra is that they have their own distinct sound that is fresh and original. Im not really sure whatever happened to this band but this is one of those CD's I listen to once in a blue moon and it never fails to bring a smile to my face.

There weren't that many radio hits from this CD (Desperately Wanting and King Of New Orleans) but the whole album is solid. The songs are pretty random and there is no theme to the album but BTE's always manages to mix meaningfull lyrics with snazzy guitar riffs. Return of the Post Moderns is a silly song that is one of my favorites from the record. Rewind is pretty as well and the album ends strong unlike Delux, their previous effort.

Bottom Line: worth picking up if you see this in a used bin (which you usually do) Suffers from AIO syndrome- Anoying If Overplayed.