More music thoughts

I listened to Better Than Ezra's most recent album "Before the Robots" again today. I haven't listened to it in a while. Interestingly, there have been moments listening to previous album where I've been trying to identify another song that I know that sounds similar. Well, sadly, Before the Robots is full of songs that sound similar to other songs which just kills me because I love the boys of BTE. Burned sounds like Swing Swing. Overcome's beginning sounds like an Elliott song. That's just insta-identification. What's so incredibly frustrating about this is because the previous four albums never felt like retreads of other bands or other albums. They were unique. Still, I really like the sound of Before the Robots. I have to accept that it's modern adult rock and not indie rock, which means it's more formulaic (even if now they are signed to an indie label), but because it's Better Than Ezra, it's a well-written and performed formula. I should mention that I've seen them three times, which is the most I've ever seen one band live and I still hold up the experience I had in seeing them at Club DV8 in SLC when I was a Freshman in college as being the ultimate concert experience. My buddy Eric and I were obsessed with them, loved How Does Your Garden Grow? the moment it came out, we were first in line at the concert (easily 30 minutes earlier than anyone else) and we were right at the front of the stage. My arm rested on one of the stage's speakers. It was incredibly cool. The show went on for about 2 1/2 hours and was very entertaining. HDYGG has the best album picture of all time. I'll try and find it...Couldn't find it...It's the one where Kevin's holding the pig.

As far as covers go, The Editors cover of the Talking Heads' Road to Nowhere is absolutely fantastic. One of the best covers I have ever heard. I mean that. Most covers are merely retreads. It's an acoustic cover for KEXP and it's so well done. It becomes an Editors song, but it doesn't detract from listening to the Talking Heads version. You can listen to both and say, "These are both great performances." You must listen to this. I got it off a Coverville podcast, let me see if I can find the link....well, it's episode 283. You can find it yourself. It's worth it.