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Originally released on their own label, Swell
Records, Better Than Ezra's first produced album,
Deluxe, was re-released by Elektra Records at a time when
previously unknown bands were being signed left and right. Every record
company was hoping to recreate the Seattle grunge phenomenon that began
with the likes of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Nirvana.
Better Than Ezra received their first record deal, and life began.
Deluxe opens with the hit In
the Blood, an upbeat number, fan favorite, and a great song. In fact,
it is a perfect song, setting a very high bar for the rest of the album.
It is easy to see the band has come a long way from their first demo ,Surprise,
in that song dynamics and instrumentation are more contemporary and solid.
The best part of the song is its ambiance and fullness carried through the
chorus. A wonderful way to start the album.
Better Than Ezra's first, and possibly
greatest hit, Good comes next. The steady bass and distorted guitar
crunch are recognizable to alterative music fans everywhere. Inherent to
Good is music's greatest key...simplicity. It is a very simplistic
song, right down to the key change toward the end for the solo. However,
it takes mastery to make a simple song fantastic, and Ezra
does just that.
Southern Gürl follows, and is actually
somewhat of a downer after the huge energy of the album's start. Its not a
bad song, but it just doesn't compare. By the end of the song, you
realize, perhaps it is just poor placement on the album. This is even more
evident as The Killer Inside begins, as the transition is perfect.
This slow ballad is truly complemented by its string accompaniment. A
pleasure to listen to, The Killer Inside is a relaxing listen and
composition.
Rosealia has a bit what I would call a
Tex-Mex vibe to it. While that description may raise eyebrows, I can
assure you I understand. This song has taken years and many live
performances for me to appreciate. While it is an instant fan favorite,
its not my personal favorite. However, this does show how Better Than
Ezra is an extremely diverse band, and should be commended.
Cry in the Sun is a fairly average
song, making little impact and drags at nearly five and a half minutes.
Teenager improves, but this song begins to show just how raw Better
Than Ezra still is at this point. An Untitled
instrumental breaks things up a little before Summerhouse picks the
energy back up. This song sounds quite typical to other songs of the era,
with its lead guitar sounding very familiar to the Toadies music.
Summerhouse features a very nice breakdown.
Porcelain begins completely out of
place, but is one of the best tracks on the album. Its melancholy acoustic
guitar and mournful lyrics resonate with anyone who has been through a bad
break up. A masterful song complemented by hand percussion and a soothing
bass guitar. Heaven's cadence makes for an interesting
transition, but the lack of energy towards the end of the album is
becoming exhausting.
This Time of Year echoes the acoustic
feel of Porcelain and should be an instant favorite for anyone.
Kevin has recently referred to this as Better Than Ezra's campfire
song, and it is. Its one of the first BTE songs I learned how to
play, its basic, has great lyrics, and is a blast to sing along to.
Coyote rounds out the album on a whimsical note (pun unintended)...and
a hidden track is given as a bizarre surprise.
Deluxe is a good first start for
Better Than Ezra, but fans of the albums two single releases, In
the Blood and Good were probably a bit disappointed.
Deluxe is a remarkably subtle album, and one that musicians will
like and fans will love. It took me nearly a year to get used to this
album, but ultimately began a shift in my musical interest away from
classic rock. Give this record a spin, it is definitely worthwhile.
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