Better Than Ezra

出道過(guò)程及音樂轉(zhuǎn)型歷程頗為崎嶇的Better Than Ezra，卻仍在90年中期以后大為走紅至今的Post-Grunge樂派，劃下一道絢爛的音樂足跡！來(lái)自美國(guó)紐奧良，1988年組軍而成的Better Than Ezra，融合鄉(xiāng)村音韻及龐克聲響，兩種落差極大的樂種作為其音樂主軸，創(chuàng)始團(tuán)員包括主唱/吉他手Kevin Griffin、吉他手Joel Rundell、貝斯手Tom Drummond及鼓手Cary Bonnecaze等四名大將，他們?cè)谕凰髮W(xué)就讀時(shí)相識(shí)，彼此共通懷抱搖滾音樂之夢(mèng)，一拍即合的順勢(shì)組團(tuán)，并在課余空閑時(shí)尋找公開表演機(jī)會(huì)，搭著現(xiàn)場(chǎng)演出之勢(shì)，Better Than Ezra同時(shí)推銷著自己錄制的DEMO卡帶。
 
1990年8月團(tuán)中的吉他手Joel Rundell選擇自殺結(jié)束一生，這帶給樂團(tuán)相當(dāng)大的沖擊，隨后選擇樂團(tuán)解散，各自尋求其他的發(fā)展空間，雖然這哀痛仍然纏繞著他們，但是其他三名團(tuán)員回想當(dāng)初的志向與出發(fā)點(diǎn)，Kevin、Tom及Cary經(jīng)過(guò)數(shù)月分開與思考后，決定再次聚首，實(shí)現(xiàn)仍未完成的音樂夢(mèng)想，他們到了洛杉磯，藉由朋友簡(jiǎn)單的錄音器材錄下“Deluxe”專輯，輾轉(zhuǎn)獲得Elektra大廠的青睞簽入旗下，兩年后再度重新發(fā)行“Deluxe”，靠著電臺(tái)點(diǎn)播率超高的單曲 &Good& ，沖入搖滾榜冠軍 主流榜Top30，全球累積百萬(wàn)銷售量，終于打響B(tài)etter Than Ezra的知名度，此時(shí)鼓手Cary卻離團(tuán)換上Travis McNabb入替，陸續(xù)發(fā)行“Friction, Baby”(1996)、“How Does Your Garden Grow?”(1998)、及轉(zhuǎn)換獨(dú)立廠旗下推出的“Closer”(2001)等錄音室作品。
 
New Orleans trio Better than Ezra began their life as a Dinosaur Jr.-influenced combo in the late '80s, yet they were sidetracked by the accidental death of their lead guitarist. Deciding to continue life as a trio, the band eventually released their first album in 1994 on their own label. It was picked up the following year by Elektra. After MTV and alternative radio picked up the single &Good,& Deluxe became a national hit. 1996's Friction Baby featured the single &Desperately Wanted; & How Does Your Garden Grow followed two years later.