Track listing
- 1 Je ne m'en souviens pas 4:43
- 2 One More Murder 4:39
- 3 At the Stars 3:43
- 4 Like It Like That 2:44
- 5 Allison Foley 3:45
- 6 Under You 4:56
- 7 Live Again 4:24
- 8 Happy Day MãMã 3:22
- 9 Pull 2:58
- 10 Particle 6:04
- 11 Beautiful Mistake 4:35
- 12 Everything in 2's 3:47
- 13 New Kind of Low 5:17
- a. Low
- b. Coma
- 14 Waxing or Waning? 3:21
- Total length: 58:18
Rate/Catalog
Catalog
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Review
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2 Issues
6 Reviews
Starts off great! Then descends into intolerable mediocrity.
Published
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1
Je ne m'en souviens pas
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2
One More Murder
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3
At the Stars
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4
Like It Like That
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5
Allison Foley
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6
Under You
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7
Live Again
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8
Happy Day MãMã
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9
Pull
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10
Particle
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11
Beautiful Mistake
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12
Everything in 2's
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13
New Kind of Low
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14
Waxing or Waning?
There are an large number of influences at work in How Does Your Garden Grow?, and it's impressive that the record doesn't collapse under its own weight. Everything here may still be broadly classified as alternative rock, with most of the tracks skewing heavily toward the poppy end of the alternative rock spectrum. Within that general frame, I hear bits of trip hop and Odelay-style Beck weirdness alongside a heavy dose of sentimental alternative pop. There are also vestiges of the group's original "Southern alternative rock" style, even if they're only dominant on a minority of (usually acoustic-driven) tracks like "Allison Foley" and "Everything in 2's". The biggest dealbreaker for many listeners will be synth-heavy rhythm sections, whose hip-hop overtones push some of the tracks toward what I lovingly refer to as turn-of-the-century "frat boy rock". I will say that, since those same influences crop up on Closer, if you're at peace with the singles-oriented material on Closer you should be fine here.
Personally, I'm only mildly annoyed by the album's frat-friendly touches and feel that most of the album's pop/rock tunes are anthemic enough to avoid sounding disposable. I take more of an issue with the record's "experimental" material. I simply can't be brought to care about meandering downtempo tracks like "Je ne m'en souviens pas", "Particle", and (the second half of) "New Kind of Low". I'm more sympathetic toward lead single "One More Murder", which marries the trip hop with a catchy alternative dance groove, but that track is dangerously close to the sound that derailed U2's career on Pop. And then there's the Beck worship of songs like "Like It Like That", which veers heavily toward the uber-kitsch that Beck himself would explore on Midnite Vultures. I'm very outspoken in my praise for Midnite Vultures, but find "Like It Like That" to be insultingly insipid. Interestingly, I suspect that the band isn't all that far away from something interesting on each of these tracks, with frontman Kevin Griffin appearing up to the task from a vocal perspective. I'm still very glad that Better Than Ezra ditched the artier groove-driven fare on Closer.
How Does Your Garden Grow? is at its best when it most clearly recalls other Better Than Ezra albums, either former or upcoming. I'm especially fond of anthemic midtempo selections like "Live Again" and "Happy Day Mama", which serve as a less radio-oriented blueprint for the biggest tracks on Closer. Both songs may qualify as "big dumb fun", but this is big dumb fun that's loaded with memorable hooks. Similarly anthemic are "Allison Foley" and "Beautiful Mistake", which merge their pop/rock with acoustic-driven alternative rock a la Friction, Baby. "At the Stars" is also worth checking out, if only because it was the only semi-successful single from the record, but that track's sentimental slow-burn impresses me less than most Better Than Ezra fans. That's five tracks that I'd characterize as good or better, which is a comparable number as Friction, Baby. It would usually be enough to earn an album 3.0-stars, but the record's 58-minute runtime and general lack of focus means that I can't go higher than a completely mediocre 2.5-star rating.
If you can find it for cheap, How Does Your Garden Grow? may be worth picking up for fans of late-90's rock/pop. I just seriously doubt that it will become anybody's personal favorite. If you're new to Better Than Ezra, I alternatively recommend beginning your exploration with Deluxe (for early-90's alternative rock fans) or Closer (for pop/rock fans).
5.2/10
Published
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Not bad really; a major pop band who dared to be experimental and had controversial results. This album does reward repeated listening from those who do find their interest piqued by the electronic elements introduced here. Refreshing after the pseudo-grunge presentation of Friction Baby.
Published
Definately the most diverse BTE album. While probably not the most nostalgic album for me (that would be Deluxe) it is the one I still listen to the most, and I think this is due in part to the band's honest attempt at spreading their musical wings. There is something playful about the album. The only problem I have with it is that it contains one of their (and just plain anybody's) worst songs in 'Like It Like That'. To this day I will rush to my stereo to push the next track button to avoid that mess, and the fact that it is sandwiched between two samey classic BTE sounding tracks makes it all that much worse.
That said, this would be the album of theirs to keep.
That said, this would be the album of theirs to keep.
Published
This album just gets better with age. When it first came out in '98, nobody really knew what to think. Dabbling in electronica seemed the coolest thing for a rock band to do during this time period, and Ezra decided to follow suit. The result was an album that (much like U2's POP) showcased its experimental songs at the beginning and slowly reverted back to a more recognizable sound as the album wore on. Although darker and more bizarre than their 2 previous albums, GARDEN is a more addictive listening experience than DELUXE or FRICTION. It grows on you. GARDEN would be my vote for #2 on the best Ezra album list.
Published
My garden grows fine. Out of the first three albums of theirs I prefer this one the most.
Published
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Catalog
22 Jan 2024
25 Dec 2023
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1
Je ne m'en souviens pas
-
2
One More Murder
-
3
At the Stars
-
4
Like It Like That
-
5
Allison Foley
-
6
Under You
-
7
Live Again
-
8
Happy Day MãMã
-
9
Pull
-
10
Particle
-
11
Beautiful Mistake
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12 Everything in 2's
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13
New Kind of Low
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14
Waxing or Waning?
13 Nov 2023
11 Nov 2023
7 Nov 2023
6 Oct 2023
6 Jul 2023
23 Jun 2023
27 Feb 2023
7 Feb 2023
29 Nov 2022
7 Nov 2022
3 Aug 2022
28 Jul 2022
7 Jul 2022
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