Today, Alt-Rock icons Better Than Ezra make a magnificent return with Super Magick — their first new album in ten years, out now via Round Hill Records. Their tenth studio LP, Super Magick arrives as the New Orleans-bred band kicks off their highly anticipated LIVE A LITTLE TOUR tonight (5/3) at House Of Blues in their hometown, before heading to Nashville for a stop at 3rd & Lindsley this Sunday (5/5). Go here to stream/download Super Magick now and see below for further info on the LIVE A LITTLE TOUR.
With its title nodding to the near-mystical power of music, Super Magick offers up a dozen tracks built on the deeply felt songwriting and wildly catchy sound previously shown on era-defining hits like “Good,” “Desperately Wanting,” and “King of New Orleans.” But while the album embodies all the elements that have made BTE so beloved over the years — the sticky melodies and sing-along choruses, sharp-witted lyrics and bittersweet storytelling — Super Magick reveals a band endlessly devoted to the pure alchemy of creative discovery.
“This album took a while, but we wanted to put the right energy into it,” says BTE singer/guitarist Kevin Griffin. “There’s this idea that most people who go to see veteran bands are there for the old songs, but for us putting out a new record is about adding to our canon of work and creating music that we’re excited to play.” “Because we’ve been together for so long, we know what needs to be done from a songwriting and production standpoint,” adds bassist Tom Drummond. “But at the end of the day, what matters most is those moments when the melody and music combine in a way that gives you goosebumps. It’s something you can’t plan for or even explain, but it’s the main thing we reach for in everything we do.”
Mainly produced by Griffin and Emery Dobyns (a producer/songwriter/engineer known for his work with Patti Smith, Lou Reed, and Antony and the Johnsons), Super Magick finds BTE exploring such eclectic genres as Country, Britpop, Dub, and New Wave while dreaming up a guitar-driven sound all their own. On their recent single and tour namesake “Live A Little,” the band delivers an ecstatic shot of classic Alt-Rock, bringing exhilarating guitar work and an unstoppable bassline to a fast-paced reflection on breaking free from fear and fully living in the moment.
“It’s one of those rare songs where the music and the melody definitely match the message, which is essentially ‘carpe diem,’” Griffin says of “Live A Little,” already a fan favorite at BTE’s crowd-thrilling live show. “The longer you live, the more you realize how fragile life is — nothing is a given, and every day is a gift.”
In addition to “Live A Little,” Super Magick includes the previously released singles “Mystified” (an electrifying piece of true-to-life storytelling that premiered last summer alongside its vintage-styled video) and “Contact High” (a charmingly tongue-in-cheek track recalling some of the Rolling Stones’ most fun-loving Country-flavored tunes). See below for the full track listing to Super Magick.
