Paper Empire
Paper Empire is the seventh studio album by the New Orleans-based rock trio Better Than Ezra, released on May 12, 2009, through Red Distribution. It is the first album to feature new drummer Michael Jerome following the departure of former drummer Travis McNabb in February 2009 after 13 years with Better Than Ezra.[3] Album art and packaging were designed by Lorin Brown at One & Done Studio.
| Paper Empire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 12, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 47:14 | |||
| Label | MRI/Megaforce Records | |||
| Producer | Warren Huart, Kevin Griffin | |||
| Better Than Ezra chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| JustPressPlay | (6/10)[2] |
Songs
Better Than Ezra vocalist Kevin Griffin co-wrote nine of the twelve songs on Paper Empire.[3] Griffin co-wrote four songs with songwriter busbee, who also wrote the Rascal Flatts single "Summer Nights".[3] The track "Hey Love" was co-written by Griffin and country music songwriter Monty Powell.[3]
"Absolutely Still", the album's first single, was co-written with Val Emmich, whose version of the song appears on the Emmich's album "Sunlight Searchparty".[3] However, Emmich departed his label, Epic Records, before "Sunlight Searchparty" was released.[3] Griffin decided that "Absolutely Still" had potential and re-recorded it with Better Than Ezra for the album.[3]
"Just One Day" and "Fit" were also co-written with singer-songwriter Jeremy Lister.[3] Lister's versions of the songs appear on his 2007 debut album, Just One Day EP, released by Warner Bros. Records.[3]
The track "All In" was written by James Bourne, a former member of the guitar-pop band Busted (which also performs back-up vocals on the track).[4]
Track listing
All lyrics and music by Kevin Griffin, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Absolutely Still" | Val Emmich | 3:58 | |
| 2. | "Turn Up the Bright Lights" | Michelle Lewis | Griffin, busbee | 3:38 |
| 3. | "Just One Day" | Griffin, Kelli Anne Owens | Griffin, Johnny Lee Andrews, Jeremy Lister | 4:02 |
| 4. | "The Loveless" | 4:24 | ||
| 5. | "All In" | James Bourne | Griffin, busbee | 3:28 |
| 6. | "Fit" | Griffin, Lister | 3:56 | |
| 7. | "Hell No!" | 3:04 | ||
| 8. | "Hey Love" | Griffin, Monty Powell | 4:19 | |
| 9. | "Nightclubbing" | Jeff Tucker, Griffin | 3:24 | |
| 10. | "Black Light" | Griffin, busbee | 3:33 | |
| 11. | "Wounded" | Griffin, busbee | 4:41 | |
| 12. | "I Just Knew" | 4:47 | ||
| Total length: | 47:14 | |||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "In Between Moments" | 4:05 |
| Total length: | 51:19 | |
Personnel
- Kevin Griffin - Guitar, Piano, Vocals
- Tom Drummond - Bass
- Michael Jerome - Drums
- Tim Palmer - Mixing
References
- AllMusic review
- JustPressPlay review
- "Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin's move colors new 'Paper Empire'". The Times-Picayune. 2009-05-28. Archived from the original on 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
- "Answers - the Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com.