All Together Now

Personnel: Shy Carter (vocals, background vocals); Tony Hoffer (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Kevin Griffin (guitar, keyboards); Courtlan Clement (guitar); Dave Palmer (piano); Jamie Moore (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Travis Aaron McNabb, Michael Jerome, Paul Mabury (drums); Nolan Sipe, Adam Chance, Julia Sinclair, Jeremy Lister (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Tony Hoffer.
Recording information: Franklin, TN; Highland Park, CA.
Photographer: Greg Miles.
Though Louisiana-based alternative rockers Better Than Ezra reached a commercial peak in the mid-'90s, the band never stopped playing through the decades following its initial blowup. Unlike many of their peers who faded into nonexistence following the era that gave us Reality Bites and grunge, Better Than Ezra consistently kept exploring their sound, and eighth studio album All Together Now finds them at characteristic heights of wistful FM radio pop songwriting. The album was produced by Belle and Sebastian affiliate Tony Hoffer and is the first for the band since its 2009 effort, Paper Empire. Singles "Crazy Lucky" and "Gonna Get Better" offer a more stripped-down sound than the albums that came just before it. ~ Fred Thomas