Originally a cassette-only release in 1989, Better Than Ezra’s long-unavailable debut was essentially the work of a different band, with the core trio of singer/guitarist Kevin Griffin, bassist Tom Drummond and drummer Cary Bonnecaze joined by lead guitarist Joel Rundell, who took his own life the following year.

The band took a long break afterwards and reformed in the familiar trio lineup, not keeping any of this material for their major-label debut, Deluxe.

Early Ezra was far closer to the college-radio sound of the time, which is to say there’s a lot of Green-era R.E.M. influence (and sometimes earlier, as “CDU” hangs on a jangly riff straight out of the Murmur era).

There’s homespun warmth here, and an appealing naiveté, you wouldn’t hear in the band’s later and louder output.

Rundell was a big part of that, whether he was chiming Rickenbacker leads or slinging power chords (on “Favorite Blanket,” a surf-type instrumental that inexplicably cuts off after 90 seconds); he also does a nice acoustic solo on the ballad “Tremble.”

Then as now, main songwriter Griffin had a sure way with a chorus hook, and “Rearranging the Bones” and “Hold Me Down” both hint at the hits to come.

What you won’t hear is the lyrical angst that would become a trademark; the band got more polished but never sounded this relaxed again.