Closer [ENHANCED] [IMPORT]

Better Than Ezra

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 4, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Import
• Label: Beyond
• ASIN: B00005N8TB
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,001 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Music > Imports > Alternative Rock
  #15 in	Music > Imports > Rock
  #86 in	Music > Alternative Rock > American Alternative > Post Grunge

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A sweet, catchy gem of an album, Closer corrals Better Than Ezra's multitude of influences and styles into a memorable whole. While the title track sounds as if it might be an outtake from Live (not a bad thing!), the lush tune, with string arrangements by David Campbell, showcases singer-guitarist Kevin Griffin's bittersweet vocals, making for a standout in an album full of strong songs. Personal, poignant lyrics are paired with spare, lovely musicality on "A Lifetime," while the funky "Recognize," with slide guitar and guest DJ Swamp, is a departure, but it works, as does the hip-pop, almost-novelty "Extra Ordinary." With Closer, BTE come across as a more sophisticated, adult contemporary version of Sugar Ray (the New Orleans-bred trio), moving seamlessly among light modern rock-pop styles, deftly capturing and illuminating emotions in an earnest, but never cloying, manner. --Katherine Turman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They just keep getting better, August 7, 2001

By	A. Seuthe (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching the hand of God, August 11, 2006

By	Cheryl A. Lightfoot "cal331" (Toledo, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good album, underrated , July 30, 2005

By	PAC MAN "ROBBAGE" (NEW YORK) - See all my reviews

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.