NORMAN —
Better Than Ezra – “Paper Empire” (independent) 2009
It would be easy to dismiss New Orleans alt-rock band Better Than Ezra as a post-grunge ’90s throwback that holds no relevance to the current rock scene.
But you would be wrong.
It may be 15 years since their last big hit, “Good,” but they have plugged away at their own pace since those days and have a sound that is very contemporary.
Better Than Ezra, led by Kevin Griffin (vocals, guitar) along with bassist Tom Drummond and drummer Michael Jerome, who replaced long-time percussionist Travis McNabb, who joined Sugarland last year, have aged gracefully as a band. Now entering middle age, BTE is a band that has discovered that it can hang with the best American pop-rock has to offer. Sure, they’re not perfect, but their hearts are really into “Paper Empire.”
The independently-released “Paper Empire” enchants listeners right off the bat with “Absolutely Still,” an atmospheric pop-rock gem that stands as one of their best radio singles to date.
“Turn Up the Bright Lights” is another slice of mid-tempo rock that would appeal to fans of bands like Lifehouse and Keane.
With strings and synth-percussion opening it up, Griffin’s vocal on “Just One Day” builds to that recognizable falsetto that reminds listeners, “Yeah, that’s the guy who sang ‘Desperately Wanting.’ Cool.”
Griffin, who moved to Los Angeles after Katrina forced his family out of New Orleans, has found a successful niche writing pop songs for everyone from Howie Day (“Collide”) to David Cook (“Avalanche”), among others.
“Hell No!” seems to be an auto-tune shoutout to kids half their age.
There’s an amusing break in this punky dance-rocker where Griffin, using an exaggerated drill-sergeant cadence barks, “Men, you will never let anybody disrespect you. Hell no. You will keep your head held high whether you win or you lose, because no one will come into our house and tell us what to do.”
And from the sound of it, Griffin kept a few fun pop nuggets for BTE. “All In” is a sweet little confection that is a mix of sunny ’70s AM pop and modern Brit-disco nonsense. Kid stuff, but fun.
While 1998’s “How Does Your Garden Grow?” was an experimental venture for the Ezras, a full-fledged danceclub pop tune that brings to mind the recent work of Scissor Sisters is curiously bad.
Solid bass work, thanks to Drummond, tempers “The Loveless,” a track that comes off as one of the strongest songs on “Paper Empire.”
“Fit” is one of the BTE’s more straight-forward love songs. It seems as though Griffin is settling comfortably into domestic life, from the sound of it.
I applaud Better Than Ezra for refusing to be a ’90s nostalgia act. They have proven they can stay interesting and relevant.
Better Than Ezra plays with Bowling for Soup Saturday night at WinStar Casino in Thackerville. For tickets and other information, go to www.winstarworld casino.com.
Grade – B+
