Shaun Corley | Staff Writer

After their critically and commercially disappointing release How Does Your Garden Grow? Better Than Ezra found themselves dropped from Elektra Records, which they had called home for the past four years. Proving that the DIY spirit that had been an earmark of modern rock didn't die with the invention of TRL, the group forged ahead.  Signing with Beyond Music, BTE have released their fifth album: Closer.

The album opens on a strong note with "Misunderstood," in which lead singer Kevin Griffins sings: "Everybody wants to be your friend when you've got something you can give them." Hmmm, maybe Mr. Griffin was talking about his former record label.  The second track and first single, "Extraordinary" is everything that How Does Your Garden Grow? should've been: a seamless marriage of hip-hop experimentation and modern rock.  The song also boasts one of the best lines in BTE history: "I've got more hooks than Madonna got looks."  Although the song strays too much into Sugar Ray country for my tastes, it's still not bad.

"Closer," the third track, is one of the requisite BTE ballads, sure to take its place beside "Cry in the Sun" and "Beautiful Mistake."  "A Lifetime" is another such ballad, describing perfectly how certain songs can become a soundtrack for our lives.  "Recognize" is a darker, guitar heavier version of "Extraordinary."  Other key tracks include "Sincerely Me" and "Rolling."

Closer is a return to form for Better Than Ezra. The group finally achieves what they set out to do with How Does Your Garden Grow?.  While not breaking any new ground, the album is nonetheless solid.