Editing Better Than Ezra (section)

=== 2000–2008 ===
[[File:Betterthanezraconcert.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Better Than Ezra performing in 2002]]
The band released the [[A-side and B-side|B-Sides]] and rarities collection ''Artifakt'' on its own "Ezra Dry Goods/Fudge" label in 2000.  ''Artifakt'' was only sold online<ref name=battalion /> and at concerts. Tom Drummond, the band's bassist, noted in 2002, "It's basically an album full of rarities."<ref name=battalion />

Better Than Ezra, now no longer with Elektra Records, signed with the [[Beyond Music]] label and began work on new material.<ref name=battalion /> Drummond explained the reasoning for choosing a smaller label, "We decided we wanted to be big fish in a small pond instead of a little fish in a big pond. We just wanted to be with a label who wanted success as much as we did."<ref name=battalion />

Griffin, Drummond and McNabb spent 18 months working on ''[[Closer (Better Than Ezra album)|Closer]]'', their follow-up album to 1998's ''[[How Does Your Garden Grow?]]'' and their first new material since being dropped by Elektra Records.<ref name=battalion>{{cite news |first=Lycia |last=Shrum |title=Better Than Ezra brings its show to Hurricane Harry's |url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/02/06/AggieLife/Better.Than.Ever-516901.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070812114613/http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/02/06/AggieLife/Better.Than.Ever-516901.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2007 |work=[[The Battalion]] |date=February 6, 2002 |access-date=August 20, 2009}}</ref><ref name=mtv2>{{cite news |first=Joe |last=D'Angelo |title=Better Than Ezra Get 'Ordinary' With AC/DC-Inspired Single |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1445418/20010726/better_than_ezra.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010802073408/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1445418/20010726/better_than_ezra.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2001 |work=[[MTV News]] |date=July 26, 2001 |access-date=August 20, 2009}}</ref> The album was recorded in New Orleans in the band's own studio, which allowed the members to focus on creating music rather than rental costs per day.<ref name=mtv2 /> ''Closer'' was mixed in Los Angeles by Better Than Ezra and the album's producer, [[Brad Wood]].<ref name=mtv2 /> However, the band felt that some tracks needed scratching.  Producer Brad Wood's management company recommended [[DJ Swamp]], who had previously worked with [[Beck]], to mix several tracks.<ref name=mtv2 /> The use of a DJ for two of the album's tracks, the first single "[[Extra Ordinary]]" and "Recognize", marked a departure for the band, who hadn't previously employed a DJ before.<ref name=mtv2 />

''Closer'' was released on August 7, 2001.<ref name=mtv2 /> Better Than Ezra launched a tour in support of the album on July 26, 2001.<ref name=mtv2 /> The first single off the album, "Extra Ordinary", which had been mixed by DJ Swamp, was inspired by an [[AC/DC]] song.<ref name=mtv2 />  The album's promotion hit a snag after its record label, Beyond Music, was closed down following a business dispute towards the end of 2002, shortly after ''Closer''{{'s}} release.<ref name=aa>{{cite news |title=Better Than Ezra To Re-Release Closer |url=http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/1408/Better-Than-Ezra-To-Re-Release-Closer |work=Alternative Addiction |date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=August 20, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Billboard0118032">{{Cite magazine |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=January 18, 2003 |title=Industry Vet Kovac Forms New Management Firm |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQ4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=beyond+music+2003&pg=PA10 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |volume=115 |issue=3 |page=10 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> Beyond Music's closure left ''Closer'' out of print for several years.<ref name=aa /> In June 2009, Better Than Ezra announced that it had acquired the rights to ''Closer'' and would re-release it in the Fall of 2009 with two new previously unreleased tracks, "Simple Song" and "Screwed Up and Beautiful."<ref name=aa />

In June 2001, Better Than Ezra filmed a series of commercials for [[ESPN]]'s ''[[College GameDay (football)|College GameDay]]''.<ref name=mtv2 /> The promo features the band while sports analyst [[Lee Corso]] [[Crowd surfing|crowd surfs]] to the stage, where he continues his sports reporting.<ref name=mtv2 />

On September 28, 2004, the band simultaneously released their first live concert DVD, as well as an official live album, both entitled ''[[Live at the House of Blues New Orleans (Better Than Ezra album)|Live at the House of Blues, New Orleans]]'' through [[Sanctuary Records]].<ref name=rollingstone>{{cite magazine |first=Colin |last=Devenish |title=Better Than Ezra Go Easy |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/betterthanezra/articles/story/6484727/better_than_ezra_go_easy |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=September 15, 2004 |access-date=August 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514231243/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/betterthanezra/articles/story/6484727/better_than_ezra_go_easy |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The DVD and album were filmed and recorded at two separate shows at the [[House of Blues]] in New Orleans during the summer of 2004.<ref name=rollingstone />

A Greatest Hits collection was released on March 15, 2005, through [[Rhino Entertainment]], a division of the [[Warner Music Group]].

The band's sixth studio album ''[[Before the Robots]]'' (Artemis Records) was released on  May 31, 2005.  In 2005, ''[[Desperate Housewives]]'' creator [[Marc Cherry]] used the band's song "[[Juicy (Better Than Ezra song)|Juicy]]" as the background music for the [[Desperate Housewives (season 2)|second season]] of the show's promotional advertisements, which Griffin credited with bringing attention to the album.<ref name=be>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Farley |title=A Chat with Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra |url= http://www.bullz-eye.com/music/interviews/2009/kevin_griffin.htm |publisher= | website= Bullz-eye.com |date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=August 20, 2009}}</ref> The song "Juicy" has also been heard in the background in commercials for Applebee's restaurants.