“Good” – Better Than Ezra
(Words/music: Kevin Griffin, available on Deluxe, Elektra 1995)

For people of a certain age (let’s say mid to late 20s), “Good” works like catnip.  On its own, the opening G chord alone miraculously leads to louder stereos.   When mixed with a few drinks, it gets an entire bar of young professionals reminiscing about their high school days.  Throw in closing time, and the same group will sing along whatever words they might remember.  I only say this because I’ve seen it happen a few times; Better Than Ezra were never huge in the 1990s, and “Good” probably doesn’t immediately come to mind when thinking of great songs of that era, yet many still have a soft spot for the song.

To speak of “Good” in sports terminology, it’s a “workman-like” song.  It doesn’t have a killer hook or a distinctive riff, but it accomplishes its objectives in a humble and diligent way.  Even with a standard chord progression, a solid memory, and mostly forgettable lyrics, “Good” manages to make an impression.  Even without a single standout quality, it succeeds because every part of it, for lack of a better word, is good enough.  Where others might try to cram unnecessary instruments or flashy licks into the track, Better Than Ezra wisely stay out of the song’s way, letting it play out without any unnecessary embellishments.  This rings especially true in the chorus, where Kevin Griffin manages to put a few extra syllables into the “it was good living with you” line.  If he tried to say anything more, the hook would lose its ramshackle charm.  Instead, it’s a particular favorite for sing-alongs, either with the lyrics intact or embellished.  It doesn’t really matter, because the moment always ends up being good enough in the end.

More on Better Than Ezra: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm