Customer Reviews

How Does Your Garden Grow?

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought this album years ago, and initially didn't really care for it, mainly because it's so different from their earlier material, and wasn't really what I was into at the time. So, it sat in my CD rack for a long time, and one day recently, I decided to break it out, just to give it another chance. Oh, what a fool I've been. I can't believe I hadn't gotten into this earlier.

I've always enjoyed Better Than Ezra for their mighty hook power. "Deluxe" and "Friction Baby" are both excellent and catchy pop rock albums. This album, however, is something else entirely. "How Does Your Garden Grow" sees them moving into more experimental territory. Their great melodies and hooks are still there, but there's also more diversity and eclecticism here as well. All of the songs have their own unique feel, and there's tons of cool stuff going on.

One of the biggest attributes to this direction, no doubt, is new drummer Travis McNabb. While the old drummer was quite good, this guy is just in a whole other league. His groove, dexterity, and versatility really fit the music in a way that the old drummer most likely couldn't have.

The songs. Oh my, the songs. This could take a while. The album starts with "Je Ne M'en Souviens Pas", which is basically just a groovy drum beat backing some odd samples and distorted vocals. Definitely an indication that this album is something different. "One More Murder" and "Like It Like That" have kind of a funky King Crimson style groove, "Particle" and "Waxing or Waning" have a spacey, Radiohead-ish feel. "Allison Foley" is a swaggering bluesy track, with Kevin doing sort of a Mick Jagger style delivery. "At the Stars" and "Live Again" are pretty much your standard catchy Better Than Ezra songs, with inescapable light-hearted melodies. "Under You" is kind of a soft, melancholy track, that perfectly demonstrates how great of a singer Kevin is. "Pull" is a straight-ahead sleazy hard-rocker, very different from what you'd expect from these guys. "New Kind of Low" starts out heavy, and then drops off into a soft ambient part toward the end. "Beautiful Mistake" is a really odd track, in that it's very soft and lilting, but with a relentless techno-ish drum beat backing it. Very weird, but somehow it works. "Happy Day Mama" is a fun catchy song, and "Everything in 2's" is a great acoustic ballad.

Ok, I really didn't intend to go though every song, but I couldn't help it. I really can't believe I've had this album all this time, and am just now realizing how great it is. Makes me wonder what else lurks within my CD collection (hehe).

I highly recommend this album to anyone who appreciates creative and original rock that still manages to be catchy and melodic. Trust me, you will love this.

The genius of this album is lost on a lot of people, sadly. It is an album in the true sense of the word. While all the BTE albums are collections of good songs, this is the only one that is more than that. BTE have good rock/pop down to instinct, but this album has a flow. They cover so much ground musically and lyrically it is awe-inspiring. The guitar and keyboard textures are gripping and subtle. It took me many listens to like all these songs, and then many more to discover all of the smaller qualities every one had. The drumming is complex, emotive, and better than on any of their other albums. It plays a key role into the intricate and deep feel of each song. "At the Stars" is a great pop highlight, very much like other Ezra work. It's storytelling lyrics and anthemic chorus are very engaging. "Under You" is a wonderful ballad that flows perfectly with the next song "Live Again". "Happy Day Mama" is a strange song that took me a while to fall in love with, but I have. "Beautiful Mistake" is just simply one of the coolest songs in the world. Lyrically, instrumentally, and vocally it just covers you in its beautiful melancholy. "New Kind of Low" is the hardest song on the album, this song also took quite a while to grasp onto, but once you do you will not look back. From here we flow directly into one of the most impressive soundscapes on the album: "Low/Coma". It has an eerie, haunting, Radiohead-like quality to it and is just another example of this bands' range. The album finishes in fantastic form with "Waxing or Waning" with yet another different sound from the band. Buy this album and listen to it until you get it is my advice to any sincere music lover.

i can see why some people may give "HDYGG" some negative reviews, but for any BTE fan, this ranks up w/ the best. the whole albums gives this sleepy quality tone, and addition a happy peppy sound both w/ a sense of relaxation feeling. even the back of the cover suggests this as you see the band just lounging around.

there wasn't much pressure to make this cd. they already made it big w/ "fricion, baby" so why not take a risk and do some experimenting. although it may have swayed off a few of the bandwagon fans of the hit tunes of "good", "desperately wanting", and "king of new orleans", "HDYGG" is sort of the turning point on what fans will be loyal, and what fans will eventually fall. i was a loyal fan.

my favorite track is "at the stars." this is a melodic masterpiece which is very dreamy. it's a song you can go to sleep w/ and be very content w/ it on repeat. very contagious to listen to. the lyrics are great, the music is fantastic, the soft drums fit perfect. how can you not like this song. "at the stars" gives hope to the doubters, and refreshes that imaginitive spirit inside of you. great song.

"je na..." is sort of a strange way to start an album, but it's very hypnotic in a good way. nice little flute sound in it. "one more murder" is a good eerie sounding song. it's a song that is good to listen to at night in like a pub or something like that, just drinking. i dunno why, but it is.

the tone is lightened by "like it like that" which is what sounds similar to the songs on the "closer" album. it's a nice little ditty which is relatively short. but it fits in nicely. "allison foley" is a little crazy at first. the song doesn't really pick up until the chorus which is pretty good. very fun to sing to.

the tone settles down w/ "under you." it has the same dreamy sound as w/ "at the stars." this is what makes this album so great. very pleasant to listen to, and the lyrics in this song are great as well. "live again" is just a tad more stronger than "under you" but it's awesome that even though it's still a beautiful song, the words make sense if you really listen to them.

the move from soft to peppy is again made, "happy day mama" is a fun song. just a great happy, sunny day, wake up in the morning song. nothing bad w/ this song. "pull" is a energetic song. nice 3min aggressive sounding BTE masterpiece.

"particle" again slows down things. this rather lenthy song is transitions the change of mood w/ ease. it's got both qualities of the dream theme and happy theme. beautiful. "beautiful mistake" is a deep misty feeling song. sort of dark, but great. "everything in 2's" shows more support on the greatness of this album. very well sung, and nice chorus.

"new kind of low" shows more of the energy as shown in "pull" and finishes w/ "coma" which is featured on the same track. coma is the aftermath of "new kind of low." what's interesting about this whole track is that it provides 2 totally different sounds to it which both are displayed throughout the album. the cd ends w/ "waxing or waning" which is a great finish. it is like the end of a long day just waiting to sit down and relax.

there is no need for this cd to not be w/ your collection of BTE. any fan definately appreciates the effort put forth into each and every song. the cd itself is wonderfully great if listened to w/o hitting the skip button. something most bands today don't even begin to think about.

Better Than Ezra has always had consistent songwriting capability, and there's no denying that they have a recognizable sound, but it has been fun to listen to the group mature up through this third CD. Their debut, "Deluxe", was impressive. They followed with "Friction Baby" which offered some strong songs, but lacked variety.

"How Does Your Garden Grow?" is aptly named, because this CD is all about variety. First, the band has taken their music into an electronic direction, although not to the point that the music is lost (as has happened with other bands who have gone this route).

The songs range from just plain fun ("Happy Day MaMa") to touching ("At The Stars", "Everything in 2s") to poignant ("Beautiful Mistake"). There are definitely 2 or 3 songs on here which are sub-par, but the lion's share of this CD is endlessly pleasurable. A common reaction at parties when I play this: "Who is this?"

It is difficult to express with words the sheer joy this album brings me. These songs transport me to the heights that joy brings, the despair that sadness brings, and the breathlessness that accompanies being in love. The lyrics are fun, philosophical, deep, romantic, and sometimes goofy. It's difficult to single out a track or two for special mention, because the whole album flows so well together, like a beautiful tale that you want to hear again and again. However, "Everything in Twos," "At the Stars," "Under You," and "Live Again" are among the most gorgeous tunes ever crafted by human hands. I'm not displeased that they changed their sound from their earlier albums; their other excellent disks can stand on their own merits. I'm a fan of the band, and they have truly created a musical masterpiece here.

While I'm not normally a big fan of synthesizers, they aren't overpowering here and work with the tunes. The heart of the music is still guitars and drums; they didn't make a foray into electronica. This album is truly genius; the songs will get into your soul and never let go of you. And that is a very good thing.

This is the CD that made me a BTE fan! I already had Friction Baby and decided to buy their (then) new CD and see them play a nightclub show! The CD took a little time to grow on me. A good comparison in that respect is "OK Computer" by Radiohead. After listening to it a few times, it began to blow me away! I suggest listening to "Everything in 2's!" The whole album is great, but I think that is the most neglected track! This CD shows their evolution as a band. I liken it to the Beatles going from "Rubber Soul" to "Revolver" to "Sgt. Pepper's." Each track is so different from the others in style. As a band, they continue to get better, but it doesn't make their older stuff any worse. Radio stations seem to be ignoring BTE. This is too bad, because without airplay to drive sales and concert tix, we may not see too much more of BTE! If you get a chance to see them live, then do so! ... If you're not a fan now, this CD and a live show will make you one! That's what did it for me! Incidently, I got to hear some of their new stuff at a show in August. I think we can expect more great tracks on their next CD. Kevin Griffin said it would be out in February!

One of the most impressive aspects of BTE as a band is that all their albums stay very true to their sound , yet each album is different, with it's own unique vibe. HDYGG? is no exception. It is definately a more experimental peice of art, filled with techno piano, distortion, and some more imaginative lyrics. yet in the mix you have the familiar sound of beautiful lush arrangments and heartbreaking lyrics ("Beautiful MIstake" and "At the stars" to name a few.) It's one of my personel faves. Even if you aren't feeling it right away, give it another listen and i promise you this album will grow on you. IT's truly a masterpiece.

This might just be one of the very best albums of the 1990's. Kevin Griffin's opus, BTE's genius.

My fav's:

At The Stars. One of my FAVORITE BTE songs of alltime. Just a great melody and excellent lyrics that place you into the song.

Beautiful Mistake. Excellent song about lost love that has been found, but with the ever present BTE exception. The song is real, and it sticks with you. I ignored it, even after buyinng this as a cassette on the Tuesday it was realeased until seeing it live last November. My mistake.

One more Murder. Good song. It really made a lot of sense in 1997 when New Orleans was the murder capital of the US. Good social comment without being preachy.

Waxing or Waning. This is an absolute gem of a song. It is an emotion that you sing along with. Excellent track, one of Kevin's best ever. I never get tired of it.

The rest of the tracks to varying degrees are good to very good. The key is they all fit and ANY of them could be released TODAY and sound just like they belong on the radio in 2006.

You can always tell if you meet an idiot by asking them their opion on this album. If they say "I didnt get it", then they are an idiot. Plain and simple, this one's for the thinking crowd.

This CD is one you have to grow into. When I first heard it, I hated it with the exception of a few tracks. Compared to BTE's earlier works (Deluxe; Friction, Baby), this is a radically different CD. Instead of the normal rock 'n roll BTE fans were accustomed to, this album incorporated many synthesized effects. Each track had a very different sound. I put this CD on the rack in favour of "Friction, Baby".

A few months later, I gravitated back to this CD and thought, "Hey, what the heck?" and gave it another listen. All the sudden, I really liked it. I found myself thinking how catchy and unique this was, and wondering why I didn't like it in the first place. This CD is proggressive rock, even veering toward an artsy type of rock. Some people love this stuff right away; others don't. I think you just have to listen to it enough to really get a good feel for it. If you find yourself not liking it, come back to it later. You might surprise yourself and end up liking it.

TRACKS

1. Je ne m'en souviens pas - Literally, I think the title means something along the lines of 'I don't remember'. This track has a very atmospheric feel, with less emphasis on the lyrics and more on the music and mood it creates. It includes extensive use of synthesizers, but it sounds really good.

2. One More Murder - This is completely different from the stuff you'd find on other BTE albums. There isn't much emphasis on guitars; again, more synthesizer use. It has a catchy tune and good lyrics (a BTE standard in my opinion).

3. At the Stars - If don't like anything on the album, this will be the exception. It's a beautiful song with great lyrics. My friends have called this the only 'normal' track on the CD - in other words, less synth stuff, more emphasis on the guitar and vocals. This is a great song, even better if you get a chance to hear it live.

4. Like It Like That - This song is absolute fun. There's kind of a samba beat going on. It's one of those songs that makes you want to get up and dance.

5. Allison Foley - I've heard people call this song 'anti-folk' - kind of an odd way to categorise it. It starts of with a twangy guitar, and eventually ends up in your average rock 'n roll distorted guitars. I love the lyrics and the guitar work in this one.

6. Under You - This is the first 'ballad' of the album. It's soft, with a great chorus. The vocals are the highlight of this one.

7. Live Again - This is one of the best slow songs on the disc. There's some cool guitar effects happening the intro, and the melody line is great. It's a catchy song that will stick in your head for days (and you'll still love it!!). It's a very pretty song.

8. Happy Day MaMa - This is another fun song, like "Like It Like That". The lyrics are pretty amusing, the song is dancable, it's fun to sing along with. An all-around good song.

9. Pull - This is hard rock. It's completely different from everything else in the album. This is your classic rock with distorted guitars, lyrics bordering sleazy, loud and catchy. It's got everything. For me to fully appreciate this song though, I had to see it live. Still, it's a great track to listen to if you're in an I-don't-care mood.

10. Particle - This brings an atmospheric feel again at points. It's a bit of a combination of tracks 1 and 2 of this disc. I really like some of the vocal work in this.

11. Beautiful Mistake - This is a very pretty song. The lyrics are well-written and the music fits in perfectly. It creates a very unique mood - one that's a bit sombre, yet still has hope.

12. Everything in 2's - A good love song. It has some acoustic guitar work and some synthesized things in it. It all fits together well.

13. New Kind of Low - a) Low: This part is the rocking part. It's loud...and, well, loud. I really like it, but some people think it's a bit weird.
b) Coma: This is the soft part. There's some keyboard/synth stuff going on, with lyrics continuing from part a of the track. It's very mellow and relaxing, a big change from part a.

14. Waxing or Waning? - I really like this track. It has a New Orleans feel to it. It's all acoustic guitar, with a bit of trumpet playing in it. The lyrics are really good, as are the vocals.

This is a great album. For me, this was a turning point for exploring more music with different sounds that just plain rock. It incorporates many things, and I find that it is very unique. It's probably one of the best discs in my collection.

I was very disappointed when I first listened to this CD. There are some good songs on this CD but BTE got away from the good guitar sounds of "Deluxe" and "Friction, Baby" on this one and instead relied heavily on synthesized music. The synthesizer sounds more like tape hiss than music on some of the cuts. This CD is not representative of the BTE sound on their other three releases. Although I do not recommend this CD, I highly recommend "Deluxe", "Friction, Baby", and "Closer".