Sound: Bursting into the 1993 music scene via their album Deluxe, Better Than Ezra fit in quite nicely with the post-grunge music scene. While not exactly a groundbreaking band, Better Than Ezra is a good one, and this album showcases this quite nicely. Following the typical "soft but catchy" creed of many '90s bands, this album is great for new and old fans. The guitar chord sequences are simple, the structure a bit predictable, but the end result works perfectly. Better Than Ezra is at heart a college rock band, and with catchy verses, memorable choruses, and fun refrains, this album does not deviate from the formula. The band also manages to slip in a few ballads, which, far from being boring and stagnant, actually manage to outclass some of the upbeat songs on the album. The track “Good” nicely sums up this band’s style. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: Kevin Griffin's lyrics work with this band. Not overly metaphorical, nor politically charged, they almost take on a story telling quality. Many a song is inspired by a girl, but most songs within rock music are. The lyrics are reminiscent, touching, wistful, and go along perfectly with the music. And while it may take some getting used to, Kevin Griffin has a superb voice, with a hint of country twang, in which he manages to craft amazing melodies within the structures of his songs. // 10
Impression: While this is a fantastic collection of Better Than Ezra songs, the band itself tends to blend in with the other college rock bands, though they tend to have better songs. The addition of the previously unreleased single "Laid," a James cover, is an added bonus for avid BTE fans. I was very impressed with the songs "Misunderstood," "Extra Ordinary," "One More Murder," and "At The Stars." To summarize, if you have not ever listened to Better Than Ezra before, be sure to purchase this album first, as it is a perfect example of the band's style. // 8
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