About
Out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana came Better Than Ezra, a trio that quietly became one of the defining acts of mid-90s alternative rock. Coalescing around 1988, the band found its core identity in vocalist and guitarist Kevin Griffin, bassist Tom Drummond, and drummer Cary Bonnecaze. They built a devoted following on the college circuit before landing their breakthrough with the 1993 independently released album Deluxe, which caught major label attention after their single Good exploded on alternative radio. Atlantic Records re-released Deluxe in 1995, and suddenly Better Than Ezra were everywhere.
Musically, they occupy that sweet spot between jangly power pop and earnest alternative rock, with Griffin's melodic instincts keeping hooks front and center without ever feeling calculated. Their follow-up Friction Baby in 1996 and How Does Your Garden Grow in 1998 showed real range, even as the grunge wave they had ridden began to recede. Later records like Artifakt and Before the Robots demonstrated a band willing to experiment with texture and production without abandoning their core songwriting strengths.
Better Than Ezra never quite got the critical respect their catalog deserved, but among fans who lived through that era of alternative radio, Good remains an instantly recognizable anthem. They kept touring and recording well into the 2000s and beyond, earning genuine loyalty from a fanbase that appreciated their consistency and sincerity in an era when both were undervalued.
