Better Off

Better Off (stylized as BETTER•OFF) is an American rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2011 under the name Friends. They changed their name in early 2013 to Better Off due to another group sharing the Friends name. They have released two albums, (I Think) I'm Leaving (2013) and Milk (2015), the latter of which charted on the Heatseekers Albums and Independent Albums charts. In March 2016, it was announced the group would be dropping off tour and "going silent for a while" following sexual assault and abuse allegtions against their then-bassist.[1] On April 25, the band released a new single called "Bad Habit."

For other uses, see Better Off (disambiguation).
Better Off
Also known asFriends (2011–13)
OriginNashville, Tennessee
Genres
Years active2011–2016, 2018–present
LabelsBlood & Ink, 6131, Equal Vision
Websitebttroff.com
MembersLuke Granered
Charles Miller

History

Friends and (I Think) I'm Leaving (2011–14)

Better Off began as Friends, before changing its name due to another band called Friends.[2] While under the Friends moniker, the band's music was similar to that of Thirtyseven.[2] They released the EP Better Off Alone[2] on June 9, 2011 through Blood and Ink.[3] On February 10, 2013, the band changed their name to Better Off.[4]

On June 11, 2013, it was announced the band had signed to 6131.[5] On the same day, "The Price Is Never Right" was made available for streaming.[5] On August 14, "A Fool Walks into a Bar and Cries Wolf" was made available for streaming.[6] On August 28, "Keeping Watch" was made available for streaming.[7] (I Think) I'm Leaving was made available for streaming on September 15,[8] and was released through 6131 and Blood and Ink on September 24.[6] On October 24, a music video was released for "A Fool Walks into a Bar and Cries Wolf", directed by Andy Reale.[9] The video features the band playing inside a house, while people outside are cliff-jumping.[9] The band supported Rust Belt Lights and Carousel Kings in December.[10]

The band went on tour, supporting Major League in February and March 2014.[11] On October 2, it was announced the band had signed to Equal Vision.[12] Vocalist/guitarist Luke Granered exclaimed that it was "excit[ing] to be teaming up with Equal Vision".[12] On October 15, "Meth Head" was made available for streaming.[13] This song was a part of a 7" vinyl,[13] titled Meth Head, with "I Was Better 10 Years Ago" as the B-side.[14] "I Was Better 10 Years Ago" was made available for streaming on October 23.[14] Meth Head was released through Equal Vision on October 27.[14] The band supported New Found Glory on the Glamour Kills Tour in October and November.[15] On November 5, a music video was released for "Meth Head".[16]

Milk and hiatus (2015–present)

On July 31, 2015, the band's second album, Milk, was announced for release and "Whatever I Don't Care" was made available for streaming.[17] In early August, the band toured with Basement, Whirr, and LVL UP.[18] On August 13, "Dresser Drawer" was made available for streaming.[19] On August 28, "This Day Will Never End" was made available for streaming.[20] In late August and September, the band toured with Bayside and The Early November.[21] Milk was released through Equal Vision on September 11.[17] The album was produced by Saves the Day's Arun Bali.[18] Granered described the album as "a landmark of maturation and solidarity" for the group.[18] He also said the group wished to create "something class-sounding [...] with big fuzzy guitars and interesting dynamics" within the songs.[22] It charted at number 11 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and at number 46 on the Independent Albums chart.[23]

In October and November 2015, the band supported Pentimento.[24] On December 11, a music video was released for "Dresser Drawer".[25] In March and April 2016, the band was set to support Mayday Parade and The Maine on their tour of the U.S.[26] On March 11, it was announced they would be dropping off tour and "going silent for a while".[1]

Style and influences

Better Off have been described as alternative rock[14] and indie rock,[5] influenced by Weezer, Foo Fighters, and Jimmy Eat World.[27] They have been compared to bands such as Daisyhead and Balance and Composure.[28] (I Think) I'm Leaving has been described as alternative rock,[9] emo,[9][29] pop punk,[30] pop rock,[30] and power pop.[9] Milk has been described as emo,[31] grunge,[30] pop punk,[32] post-hardcore[30] and rock.[30] Brian Leak of Alternative Press called the album a mixture of Citizen's Youth (2013) and Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon (2001).[33] Mike Damante of Chron compared the album to Jimmy Eat World's Futures (2004) and Invented (2010) albums.[31] Damante noted that album "could've been a genre-defining record, if it came out 10 years ago."[31]

Accolades

(I Think) I'm Leaving was included on Rock Sound's "50 Best Albums of 2013" list at number 44.[29] Milk was ranked at number 17 on AbsolutePunk's top albums of 2015 list.[34]

Discography
Studio albums
Title Album details
(I Think) I'm Leaving
Milk
Reap What You Sow
Extended plays
Title Album details
Better Off Alone[nb 1]
  • Released: June 9, 2011[3]
  • Label: Blood and Ink
  • Format: CS, DL
Singles
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Meth Head"[14] 2014 Non-album single
"Whatever, I Don't Care"[35] 2015 Milk
"Dresser Drawer"[36]
"This Day Will Never End"[37]
Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director
"A Fool Walks into a Bar and Cries Wolf" 2013 Andy Reale[9]
"Meth Head"[16] 2014
"Dresser Drawer"[25] 2015

Band members
Current members
  • Luke Granered – vocals, guitar (2011–present)
  • Charles Miller – drums (2011–present)

References
Footnotes
  1. Released under the name Friends.
Citations
  1. Tate, Jason (March 11, 2016). "Better Off Drop Off Tour". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  2. Houston, Rob (October 12, 2013). "Better Off - '(I Think) I'm Leaving'". HM Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  3. Blood and Ink Records. "Better Off Alone | Blood and Ink Records". Blood and Ink Records. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  4. Better Off (February 10, 2013). "Friends is now called Better Off". Better Off. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  5. Kraus, Brian (June 11, 2013). "Better Off sign to 6131 Records, stream lead single "The Price Is Never Right"". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  6. Beringer, Drew (August 14, 2013). "ABSOLUTExclusive: Better Off Song Premiere". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  7. Beringer, Drew (August 28, 2013). "Stream New Better Off Song "Keeping Watch"". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  8. Stagg, David (September 15, 2013). "Better Off releasing new tracks for stream". HM Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  9. Martins, Chris (October 24, 2013). "Better Off Would Rather Be Cliff-Jumping in 'A Fool Walks Into a Bar and Cries Wolf' Video". Spin. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  10. Stagg, David (November 15, 2013). "Better Off and Strengthen What Remains start respective tours". HM Magazine. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  11. Kraus, Brian (December 19, 2013). "Major League announce winter tour with Have Mercy, Seaway and Better Off". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  12. Sharp, Tyler (October 2, 2014). "Better Off sign to Equal Vision Records; announce seven-inch, 'Meth Head'". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  13. Tate, Jason (October 15, 2014). "Better Off Stream "Meth Head"". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  14. "Better Off, "I Was Better 10 Years Ago" song premiere". Alternative Press. October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  15. Crane, Matt (August 5, 2014). "New Found Glory release "Selfless" video; announce tour with We Are The In Crowd, Fireworks, more". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  16. Ilvonen, Keagan (November 5, 2014). "Better Off Share "Meth Head" Music Video". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  17. Nassiff, Thomas (July 31, 2015). "Good News: Better Off to Release 'Milk' in September, Stream "Whatever, I Don't Care"". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  18. Kraus, Brian (August 3, 2015). "Better Off announce new album 'Milk' on Equal Vision—stream "Whatever, I Don't Care"". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  19. Tate, Jason (August 13, 2015). "Better Off Stream "Dresser Drawer"". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  20. Tate, Jason (August 28, 2015). "Better Off Stream "This Day Will Never End"". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  21. Caruso, Drew (June 25, 2015). "Bayside, The Early November, Better Off announce tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  22. Bird, ed. 2015 (205), p. 28
  23. "Milk - Better Off | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  24. Beringer, Drew (August 28, 2015). "Pentimento Announce "I, No Longer"; Fall Tour with Better Off". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  25. Tate, Jason (December 11, 2015). "Better Off Post "Dresser Drawer" Video". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  26. Sharp, Tyler (December 16, 2015). "Mayday Parade, the Maine announce co-headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  27. Rayfield, Nicholas (August 13, 2015). "SoundCheck: Better Off's intimate and inspiring new single 'Dresser Drawer'". USA Today. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  28. RENALDO69 (September 4, 2015). "Better Off - Milk". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  29. Patashnik, ed. 2014, p. 17
  30. Djamoos, Zac. "Better Off - Milk - Album Review". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  31. Damante, Mike (September 11, 2015). "New record roundup: Motion City Soundtrack, the Wonder Years, Better Off". Chron. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  32. Djamoos, Zac (December 3, 2015). "Zac Djamoos - Article". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  33. Leak, Brian (August 28, 2015). "Better Off stream third 'Milk' single, "This Day Will Never End"". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  34. LaGambina, Aj (December 2, 2015). "AP.net Staff List - Article". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  35. "Whatever, I Don't Care (2015) | Better Off". 7digital. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  36. "Dresser Drawer (2015) | Better Off". 7digital. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  37. "This Day Will Never End (2015) | Better Off". 7digital. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
Sources
  • Bird, Ryan, ed. (October 2015). "Exposure". Rock Sound. London: Freeway Press Inc. (205). ISSN 1465-0185.
  • Patashnik, Ben, ed. (January 2014). "50 Best Albums of 2013". Rock Sound. London: Freeway Press Inc. (182). ISSN 1465-0185.
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