Rocktrospectiva: The Nice And Fair "Deluxe" Turns 30

"Deluxe" originally self-released by Better Than Ezra in 1993 and then re-released by Elektra on 28 February 1995, Deluxe an album full of beloved jangle-pop and fantastic nineties college radio sound spawned three singles "Good", "In the Blood" and "Rosealia." 

 

Better Than Ezra does not get the respect and airplay the band deserved, most people only know them from their one major hit song "Good" and "Rosealia" remember when both had huge airplay on the MTV (Alternative Nation, 120 Minutes and regular shows). hard to believe that even the band hasn't had the same attention since, they still recording and currently playing, they have recorded 8 studio albums so far, but unfortunately none of them on the same level as the iconical "Deluxe". 

 

A band that just wanted to play music like so many, they were tight, well produced and actually extremely talented. And this album was the proof of that, with their songs about teen problems, looking for love and southern life.

 

Now with the support of a major label "Elektra", the band re-released "Deluxe", since the beginning you can appreciate the vanquished vocals and semi.quirky guitar chords and sound on "Good", this track put the band on the spotlight and commenced to gained airplay on the MTV in the days when alternative music was on the top of the lists, a band that dare to do and sound different, they came from Louisiana and  it was rare for a rock band to mention the south without bleeding over into country, but no, this band was different,  they seemed to understand what life was like in the heat of the double-face south where people bless you when they didn't like you and where they ignored the problems just because if you ignored the issues, they simply didn’t exist.  

 

But the album wasn't only "Good", they had another great tracks just like " the gear-switching tempo of "In the Blood,", also the tempting pull of "Southern Girl.", and lovely indie ballad "Rosealia", "Teenager" a song about the things teens face everyday, something still the same 30 years later, "Cry In The Sun" a beautiful song with a certain Neil Young background, "Porcelain", a brilliant track with backing vocals from Melanie Owenhere, and the bonus track "Der Pork Und Beans", even when certain critics considered the album a total flat. The songs on the track are deeply introspective with tunes covering darkness within people to domestic abuse, to the temptations that teens are faced with on a daily basis.   Kevin Griffin, Tom Drummond and Drummer Cary Bonnecaze seemed to be fit to create this interesting album. 

 

Deluxe Track List: 

 

1. In The Blood

2. Good

3. Southern Girl

4. The Killer Inside

5. Rosealia

6. Cry In The Sun 

7. Teenager

8. 

9. Summerhouse

10. Porcelain

11. Heaven

12. This Time Of The Year

13. Coyote