Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: BEY 78137
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.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)
© 2001 Beyond
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Better Than Ezra was always a staunchly classicist band, raised on the college rock of the '80s and turning out a series of earnest records that paid homage to that sound but were released in the post-grunge era. They had more success than most post-grungers since they were classicists dressed up in heavy sincerity, but they had hooks, best illustrated on the breakthrough "Good" and the yearning "Desperately Wanting." But as the '90s drew to a close, most guitar bands of the mid-'90s were hit hard by shifting tastes and changing fashions, leaving the group out in the cold along with many of their peers. BTE regrouped on a new label, Beyond, turning out Closer in 2001. In one sense, time treated the group well, since they simply became better at their craft. Kevin Griffin's songwriting is easier, rarely suffering from the strained sincerity that dragged down many of their albums. This time around, his melodic sense is sharper -- not just on rockers, but on ballads -- and his songs are given excellent treatment by a muscular band, presented in a supple production by Brad Wood. If there is a problem with the record, it's because Closer is occasionally constrained by its time, particularly on the neo-hip-hop of two tracks featuring DJ Swamp (though "Rolling," featuring Toddy, is a highlight). These aren't necessarily bad -- and the single "Extra Ordinary" is catchy, despite Griffin's rap -- but they do give the album an appearance of trying too hard, when this really is the most natural and best record they've ever made.
.FLAC via Mega (Link)
.AAC 256 kbps via Mega (Link)
© 2001 Beyond
AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Better Than Ezra was always a staunchly classicist band, raised on the college rock of the '80s and turning out a series of earnest records that paid homage to that sound but were released in the post-grunge era. They had more success than most post-grungers since they were classicists dressed up in heavy sincerity, but they had hooks, best illustrated on the breakthrough "Good" and the yearning "Desperately Wanting." But as the '90s drew to a close, most guitar bands of the mid-'90s were hit hard by shifting tastes and changing fashions, leaving the group out in the cold along with many of their peers. BTE regrouped on a new label, Beyond, turning out Closer in 2001. In one sense, time treated the group well, since they simply became better at their craft. Kevin Griffin's songwriting is easier, rarely suffering from the strained sincerity that dragged down many of their albums. This time around, his melodic sense is sharper -- not just on rockers, but on ballads -- and his songs are given excellent treatment by a muscular band, presented in a supple production by Brad Wood. If there is a problem with the record, it's because Closer is occasionally constrained by its time, particularly on the neo-hip-hop of two tracks featuring DJ Swamp (though "Rolling," featuring Toddy, is a highlight). These aren't necessarily bad -- and the single "Extra Ordinary" is catchy, despite Griffin's rap -- but they do give the album an appearance of trying too hard, when this really is the most natural and best record they've ever made.
tags: better than ezra, closer, 2001, flac,
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ReplyDeleteOriginal comment(s): "Please upload again, link broke, thank you very much "
Delete"Hi. You're an idiot and here's why."
- This publication contains 2 different links and you've failed to specify which one is dead.
. Don't believe me?
- Your words: Please "upload" again, "link" broke, thank you very much
- "upload" what? FLAC, AAC?
- "link" = singular meaning 1 not 2 or 3
>>> Visitor lacks common sense.
- Visitor failed to both see and read the disclaimer/link found on the disclaimer in regards to properly reporting dead links.
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. Uploading screenshot of the disclaimer....... 100% complete
https://imgur.com/a/nQFBviT
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https://imgur.com/ERS2QyG
>>> "You're also blind"
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Excuse me, it is for my bad English, I should have read that POST, but it was not in sight, excuse my ignorance and if in any way it offended them. sorry
ReplyDeleteWe are not "defended" You are responding to an automated response from our bot. It will respond to that way when you fail to specify which of the 2 links are dead. It will also respond to you that way if you do not meet the guidelines of this site. The bot is programmed to be aggressive becasue we've had severe problems with the Hip-Hop section making these same mistakes multiple times. The Hip-Hop section is gone but the bot will always be this aggressive from now on. Kindly state the link that is dead and we shall update it tomorrow.
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