Customer Reviews

Closer

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Better Than Ezra's last album "How Does Your Garden Grow?" was dramatically experimental, and though it had its flaws it was a solid album. On their newest effort, BTE continues to experiment with the synthetic elements of rock, but to a lesser degree. This album seems to find a comfortable middle ground between their first two alternative-rock driven albums, and their unexpected third. The result is a fantastic album, from a band that continues to get better and still amaze this long time fan. Kevin Griffin's songwriting continues to mature. On other albums, he tended to write songs that could be construed as overly emotional or sentimental, but the songs on this album are more subtle. The stand-out tracks on this album include the light-hearted and well-intended love song "Extra Ordinary", the character study of a struggling actress in the song "Misunderstood", and the pop-driven reluctant 'let's get back together anyway' song "Sincerely Me." And in true Better Than Ezra form, there's the title-track surging ballad "Closer." The songs are really well-written and produced, and show that the group is a far more capable outfit than it was three albums ago. Most every track on ths album is listenable, and there's a good chance that at least a couple will become your favorites. The group also brought in Beck's mixer, DJ Swamp on a couple of the tracks- "Extra Ordinary" and "Recognize." The first of the two efforts is successful, even though it sounds like a Bare Naked Ladies ditty, which is ironic because they referece the group in their lyrics. The latter effort is the worst track on the album. The mixes on both are quality, but "Recognize" really sounds like the group is trying too hard to sound different and nail a style, that works well for Beck, but doesn't quite for them. I gave this album five stars because it drew me in on the first listen and I've been listening to it for days non-stop ever since. If you've missed out on their latest efforts, and haven't been a active fan of the group since their first hit single "Good," this is a good album to get reacquainted with the band. It's an awesome album, from a band that continues to evolve.

HYDGG is untoppable in my eyes, but this album is nearly perfect and marks BTE as one of the best rock bands of the age. It's not hard to single out a track: "Closer" is gorgeous, stunning; I get goosebumps every time I hear it. Perfection. The rest of the album holds up as well; in fact, my family and I find this to be the perfect road album- by the time "Rolling" kicks in we are well on our way and singing along in perfect happiness. The sentiments of the closing "I Do" are so personally meaningful, yet universal - hoping that someone out there is listening to the same song, feeling the same way I do - who can't relate to that? It's half of why I read these reviews.

The lyrics are fun and funny, and even poignant and profound. Those feelings are well-matched in the music - good writing and production all around. You won't regret buying this CD.

This album is very good and underrated. Every song flows nicely. This is their best overall album. This band will probably never have the run they did in the mid 90's but this is still their best album.

Some people may have wondered if "How Does Your Garden Grow" was the end to this band. If that would be the case, then there wouldn't be "Closer" and there wouldn't be the band's best album to show for it.

"Closer" is different from the other albums from the fact that it is not from the Elektra label. Beyond Records allowed them to be more expressive, and less experimental in this album, and it greatly shows. Unfortunately for BTE, Beyond went bankrupt. However, "Closer" is a masterpiece.

"Misunderstood" is a nice start. I don't know if it was a single b/c I never heard it on the radio or saw a video, it has that quality of a single. Kevin Griffin's voice is absolutely great in this song, and is a good thing, b/c it carries through the rest of the songs as well.

Now "Extra Ordinary" which was the the first single, wouldn't be something a BTE fan would think would be the best choice for a single, but it obviously does fit the criteria. Not too long, quick and poppy, energetic, and has a nice chorus. It's the song that attracted possible new fans and gave hope to the old ones knowing that they are once again making great music.

The album slows down w/ the title track "Closer" which is damn new perfect. I don't know how they did it, but this song couldn't be written, sung, and played any better. It's a song that gets better every time you listen to it. I sometimes wonder if they spent much time on this song in the studios, b/c it's flawless. Absolutely a beautiful song.

I don't know why, but "Rolling" just makes you happy. It features Toddy who has a nice voice who sings along in the chorus and other parts. It's a nice short happy song.

Perhaps "A Lifetime" is a more personal song to someone on the band, but it's still good. The strings add flavor. It's probably the closest song that resembles HDYGG songs, but would be the best on that album. I think meanings can come out of this song.

DJ Swamp is featured on "Recognize." I've never heard a BTE song like this before. It's almost has some kind of country rock beat to it w/ a touch of hip hop. It's an odd mix, but plays out nicely I think.

"Sincerly, Me" gradually picks up from the beginning to end. Maybe that's why I like it. Along w/ a nice lyrically story, catchy tune, and pretty good guitar solo, this song ranks as one of the best on the album.

Another slow break comes w/ "Get You In." There's nothing too great w/ this song in terms of the lyrics. But the music allows the words to be more than what they are on paper. Good song.

My favorite song is "Briefly." I love it to death almost. It has a awesome sound to it, and is sung w/ much emotion. The words are meaningful as well. There's just something about this song that touches me in a way that other songs dont.

Another song that sounds like something off HDYGG is "Juarez." Even though it is my least favorite on the album, it's a nice musical piece. More of an instrumental than a song, it seems like something you would listen to on a tropical island soaking back sippin' your martini.

An excellent ending comes w/ "I Do." Sort of like a credits song you hear at the end of a movie. A happy fun song that has a positive attitude.

Closer is by far the best album BTE has to date musically. Even though Friction, Baby and Deluxe may have sold more, Closer is by far the best. I just hope that they will cut a deal w/ a label and come out w/ great songs like the ones here. I reccommend this album to any pop/rock fan out there.

'Closer' is BTE's first album to come out since How Does Your Garden Grow in 1998(not counting the B-Sides of Artifakt). All I have to say is I love this album. I have been a fan of these 3 guys for a long time, and just to hear them evolve is so great. The first hit single 'Extraordinary' is a fun and catchy song that you have to like. There is a little bit of everything on this....'Juarez' is a great driving song, real laid back, Misunderstood and Lifetime are absolutely fabulous songs. Other tracks include Briefly, Rolling, Recognize,Get You In, Sincerely Me. I have to say my favorite two songs are 'I do' which is just a very fun, catchy song...and Closer, the title track of the album, which is a very deep and personal song from the lead singer Kevin Griffin. Now that BTE has a label that will actually support them, they might be able to vault back into mainstream music. Overall, this cd is a must have....its the distinct sound of Better Than Ezra, but it is definitely a different sound from past albums such as HDYGG and Friction, Baby.

Better Than Ezra (BTE) has always been one of my favorite bands. Woefully underrated for years, but never giving up and producing some of the finest music from any band you will ever hear.

'Closer', is a powerhouse of brilliance from the first track to the last. Loaded with instantly catchy melodies but also containing some of the most clever, playful, and poignant lyrics. There is simply no denying the pure love that went into the production of this CD by the band. This dedication resulted in one of the most fun CD's I have ever listened to in my entire life. Seriously, I never tire of this disc, it's that good!

If there was ever an album that earned the word 'classic', 'Closer' is that CD. Do not miss this overlooked gem!

With every album, Better Than Ezra has grown and reshaped it's sound to either deal with the current trends in music or to mature as artists. With "Closer", this is no exception. By throwing a DJ into a few tracks BTE has made good use of an otherwise mostly misused trend in modern music. The ballads on the album, like "Closer", "A Lifetime" and "Get You In" are all effectively emotional and more reminiscent of their first major release "Deluxe". The more rockin' songs on the record "Recognize" and "I Do" seem to be a matured upon formula that worked so well on BTE's second record "Friction, Baby". And the first single "Extra Ordinary" reminds me a lot of "How Does Your Garden Grow?". So perhaps this record isn't as much a total transformation as an extremely effective blending of the elements that has worked so well for BTE in the past. In all, "Closer" is an excellent record and should be heard both by hardcore BTE fans and the more casual listener.

I rarely listen to albums all the way through--I find songs that I like,download them, and compile a playlist. This CD serves the same purpose as an eclectic playlist. You get a wide variety of moods and rhthyms. The album is speckled with catchy rhymes and moving melodies. A few notables: Oh, wait I can't discern between the songs' qualities, they're all awesome. BUY THIS ALBUM AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!!

This is by far their best one yet! I can't stop listening to it! I was immediately drawn in by Missunderstood. Then I had to keep listening to Extraordinary. Rollin' -- don't get me started. That song reminded me of my younger days, with late night jobs and days off on the weekend and never sleeping and then doing it all over again the next weekend. Get You In is propably the most poinant of songs; a little depressing, but we all know someone like her. I Do is a song for every mixtape. The dream of meeting someone who feels the same way is a rare occasion. If you've never seen these guys in concert, DO IT! You won't be disappointed!

At first I was thinking that the best thing about this album is its cover [the last time I remember a similar one with a butterfly was the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's 'A Child's Guide to Good and Evil'].

The good thing about this album [compared with their last/previous CD] is that they have backed off being so cutesy with their tunesmithing; the great thing is that on a number of the tunes the lead singer has really found his inspired singing style once again . . . his groove is matchless.

Alot of the tunes sound like has-been power pop-rock, until you really focus on the singer--then the songs start to come alive. This is not so different from the way the astounding songs on their earlist release ['Deluxe'] worked, but there, the tunes were all so original sounding, the listener didn't have to work at all to get to the true grit, rapture, and meaning.

OK, I admit, I'm not so much into the pop-rock genre, and a little prejudice can tarnish a listening experience. I may end up liking this alot more later on.