"Closer" is different from the other albums from the fact that it is not from the Elektra label. Beyond Records allowed them to be more expressive, and less experimental in this album, and it greatly shows. Unfortunately for BTE, Beyond went bankrupt. However, "Closer" is a masterpiece.

"Misunderstood" is a nice start. I don't know if it was a single b/c I never heard it on the radio or saw a video, it has that quality of a single. Kevin Griffin's voice is absolutely great in this song, and is a good thing, b/c it carries through the rest of the songs as well.

Now "Extra Ordinary" which was the the first single, wouldn't be something a BTE fan would think would be the best choice for a single, but it obviously does fit the criteria. Not too long, quick and poppy, energetic, and has a nice chorus. It's the song that attracted possible new fans and gave hope to the old ones knowing that they are once again making great music.

The album slows down w/ the title track "Closer" which is damn new perfect. I don't know how they did it, but this song couldn't be written, sung, and played any better. It's a song that gets better every time you listen to it. I sometimes wonder if they spent much time on this song in the studios, b/c it's flawless. Absolutely a beautiful song.

I don't know why, but "Rolling" just makes you happy. It features Toddy who has a nice voice who sings along in the chorus and other parts. It's a nice short happy song.

Perhaps "A Lifetime" is a more personal song to someone on the band, but it's still good. The strings add flavor. It's probably the closest song that resembles HDYGG songs, but would be the best on that album. I think meanings can come out of this song.

DJ Swamp is featured on "Recognize." I've never heard a BTE song like this before. It's almost has some kind of country rock beat to it w/ a touch of hip hop. It's an odd mix, but plays out nicely I think.

"Sincerly, Me" gradually picks up from the beginning to end. Maybe that's why I like it. Along w/ a nice lyrically story, catchy tune, and pretty good guitar solo, this song ranks as one of the best on the album.

Another slow break comes w/ "Get You In." There's nothing too great w/ this song in terms of the lyrics. But the music allows the words to be more than what they are on paper. Good song.

My favorite song is "Briefly." I love it to death almost. It has a awesome sound to it, and is sung w/ much emotion. The words are meaningful as well. There's just something about this song that touches me in a way that other songs dont.

Another song that sounds like something off HDYGG is "Juarez." Even though it is my least favorite on the album, it's a nice musical piece. More of an instrumental than a song, it seems like something you would listen to on a tropical island soaking back sippin' your martini.

An excellent ending comes w/ "I Do." Sort of like a credits song you hear at the end of a movie. A happy fun song that has a positive attitude.

Closer is by far the best album BTE has to date musically. Even though Friction, Baby and Deluxe may have sold more, Closer is by far the best. I just hope that they will cut a deal w/ a label and come out w/ great songs like the ones here. I reccommend this album to any pop/rock fan out there.


Solid effort, stick to the rootsy rock   August 6, 2001
 4 out of 10 found this review helpful

An annoying trend I've noticed in Better Than Ezra's music, that sort of began in "How Does Your Garden Grow", is the interspersing of electronically altered sounds into their music. While they were able to pull it off with a reasonable degree of success (especially in songs like "Je ne myen souviens pas" and "One More Murder"), "How Does..." best tracks were the ones where Better Than Ezra stayed within the confines of their image. A three piece rock outfit with the occasional folksy undertone.

When I first read the liner notes, I groaned whenever I saw the name DJ . Listening the songs, the DJ doing whatever he was doing, actually takes away from the songs. But when the DJ is silent, or you can mute him with your ears, you'll notice, these songs aren't really that good. Poor, cliched, contrived lyric, music that that doesn't know if it wants to ethereal or rocking, and whoever had the idea to introduce the DJ should be summarily flogged.

Kevin Griffin's voice really shines in a rock environment. I've always been convinced his voice is Pat Monahan's (of Train), with a lot more range. "Closer" is a solid album, and if you are a fan bands looking to evolve themselves, give this one a look. Unfortunately, I'd like to see them go back to the stuff that made me a fan in the first place, the songs off of "Deluxe" and "Friction, Baby".

Song by song review:

1. Misunderstood - Starts the album with things I do not want to hear (that organ or something), but it's a straight ahead rock/blues number. Sounds a little like Train. The short bridge of this song will annoy you unless you are a fan of Prodigy.

2. Extra Ordinary (feat. DJ Swamp) - Starts off like Madonna's "Don't Tell Me". Kevin decides he wants to be "king of the pop culture references". With all the electronic stuff, are they trying to be Better Than Ezra or LFO? I like how it frolics around.

3. Closer - One of those confused Goo Goo Dolls songs. I can not enjoy this song with the violins in the background. Seriously, can have BTE circa 1994-1998 back please?

4. Rolling (feat. Toddy) - I have no idea what this is. I sounds like it was put together on the fly. The lyrics are just sort of there. The music is just sort of there. I can not get a feel of what emotion they are trying to display here. Throw away song here.

5. Lifetime - This sounds more like what I would expect. Straight ahead, blues, little extemporaneous stuff. So far favorite song on the album.

6. Recognize (feat. DJ Swamp) - Trying to omit the country vibe here. Apparently they did steal Madonna's DJ from "Don't Tell Me". I can not get into these electronica tinged songs. I really want to like this album, but this electronic stuff is really taking away from it. This song is just pointless.

7. Sincerely, Me - What the heck is this? Blessid Union of Souls set to a rock song? Kevin, the cliche and subject already covered count is rising by the second.

8. Get You In - Folky, artsy, this is nice. If BTE isn't going to rock out, and if they are going to sing a cliche-laden love song, this is the way they should do it.

9. Briefly - I'm seeing a trend here. I've heard all of these lyrics before. Is Kevin playing a joke on us by bringing out every cliche on the green earth. I like the way the music was working in this song, but the lyrics are just dumb.

10. Juarez - More of that atomospheric stuff. If I wanted atomospheric stuff, I'd listen to Air, because they do it much better. Juarez is a dour song that attempts to be a picture of of the Southwest, but just ends up boring me.

11. I Do - Promising opening chords spoiled by this electronic crap. And let's bring in the cliched lyrics and the falsetto. Suddenly Nick hits the stop button because he can't take this anymore.

Did Daniel Lanlois kill my BTE? Just like he put U2 into the "Discotheque" funk? Is there something wrong with being a straight ahead rock band. The boy band stuff is leaving, electronica is on life support (only thanks to the club scene), and the return of just straight ahead rock is near. I only hope BTE didn't doom themselves with this album.


BTE Strikes Again   August 20, 2001
 4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Better Than Ezra, succumbing to my expectations, has striked again. I was so thrilled when I heard that Better Than Ezra had just come out with a new cd. After hearing their last album, "How Does Your Garden Grow", I was quite interested in hearing the next follow-up. I'll admit, I was a bit apprehensive about listening to the new cd, "Closer", simply because I remembered the fantastic songs "At the Stars" and "Under You" from their last album, and I was afraid that BTE probably couldn't top those. However, after listening to "Closer", I was completely enamored and my fears were proven to be superfluous. In my opinion, the best song on this album is the cover-song "Closer". Not only is it beautiful, but it is also very personal, which is something that not many bands these days can add to their songs. I must say that I am a little biased towards the song "Juarez", since Juarez, Mexico is my sister city. "Rolling", "Sincerely, Me", "Misunderstood", and " A Lifetime", also prove to be great songs. Honestly, every song on this album is wonderful. You can turn on your stereo and just listen to everything with complete ease. Better Than Ezra is such a talented group and it's a shame that they do not get more recognition for their outstanding work. Well done boys!