Customer Reviews

Sister Hazel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's not to say that Sister Hazel's self-titled album isn't unlike anything you've heard before. The catchy tunes, simple riffs, and open vocals will remind you of any number of bands: Hootie and the Blowfish, Counting Crows, Third Eye Blind. That doesn't mean, though, that "Sister Hazel" isn't a great album. The music is simple and the lyrics are sometimes downright cheesey ("One Nation"). But nonetheless, Sister Hazel delivers a precision product that pleases with the intensity, compassion and soulfullness in a way that will likely conjur an image of their namesake.

Whether I like "Somewhere More Familiar" or "Fortress" less or more than the self-titled "Sister Hazel" all depends on the day that you ask me. "Sister Hazel" is undoubtedly more bluesey than the others, especially prominent in "Will Not Follow" and "Bring It On Home" which also draws on some obvious gospel influences. You'll find yourself bee-boppin' to the upbeats of "Feel It" and "Sometimes". The toned down harmonious version of "All for You" while heartfelt reminds me a little too much of Extreme's "More Than Words" to be my favorite version, but still an 'ok' rendition.

All in all, I still find myself continually impressed with the five member band from Gainesville Florida. They're well worth the listen.

I first became aware of Sister Hazel on the Fleetwood Mactribute album, where they sang "Gold Dust Woman" and justblew me away. So I scampered right over to Amazon.com to pick up a full Sister Hazel disk, and I've gotten blown away again. How much blowing away can one guy tolerate? Lots, when the music is this good. The sound to me is reminiscent both of Crosby Stills & Nash and, especially, the Bodeans, and in both cases that's a big compliment coming from me. This is good, good, good stuff -- slightly twangy, rocking, acoustic-y and just great!

I had been listening to a Cleveland radio station at work. I had been bored with the music that had been on lately. All of a sudden, there's this song on called ALL FOR YOU. I was immediately hooked! I quickly did a web search for the song because the station failed to mention who the group was. Lo and behold, I had discovered Sister Hazel.

This CD combines several styles of music with pure tones that exhibit the talent of Sister Hazel at its best. I am a big fan of acoustic guitar playing, since it is an art in and of itself. Sister Hazel does not disappoint. If you like groups such as Barenaked Ladies, the Eagles and the like, you will be playing this CD over and over again.

This CD is also one where I don't skip tracks. Each song has its own strength. The arrangements are solid, solid vocals nailing each and every song.

Absolutely worth the buy!

For an album branded "raw" and "indie demos" I thought this was going to be a badly produced and dodgy album but BELEIVE ME IT IS NOT!

This album has some great material on like FEEL IT and SOMETIMES. Sister Hazel are a fun band and the musicians are of a very high standard. It is a more bluesy album to SMF. I personally prefer Somewhere more familar to this album but if you like one - you'll like the other. Sister Hazel are a class act and are very underated.

First off, this is a demo tape that Sister Hazel put together to get signed to a record company. It sound like a demo as the sound is tinny and a dog barks during one of the songs.

However this is still an excellent CD. It is the source for the hit single "All For You" and is where you will find the equally great songs "One Nation" and "Feel It."

When you listen to this CD, it becomes clear to you why Sister Hazel got signed to a record contract.

If you like their other work, you should definiely get this CD

I thought this album might be a little rough and iffy, since it's their first, but I was pleasantly surprised! The music is less hard-rocking than on Fortress, and on the whole very solid. I especially love their cover of Sam Cooke's "Bring it on Home" - I didn't know it was going to be the same song and they do such a GREAT job with it, I really got into it and started singing along.

Showing less of the commercialization of their second album, this is Sister Hazel at its roots--before they were famous and before they were opening for the Allman Brothers. If you like Somewhere More Familiar, this one does a one-up on that album, with more tight harmonies and more clean instrumentation than the frequently electric-heavy album that made them popular. "Running Through Fields", "Feel It", and a beuatiful acoustic version of their radio hit "All For You" are the best tracks, yet I rarely find myself skipping any of these feel-good tunes from when the band was making music merely to have fun and please all of their Gainesville fans.

This is my first Sister Hazel purchase. I love this CD! Every track is great. Their music just makes you feel good. I highly recommend it. Love these guys.....

I have been a Sister Hazel fan ever since All for You become popular in the late 90's. As such, my first album of theirs was Somewhere More Familiar. I have bought every album after that, but never bothered to get the self-titled album. After I bought it I was glad that I did. It is a very different sound from the other 4 albums, which is what I really like about the band in general. This is a fun album that is great driving music with lots of upbeat songs and a great cover of a Sam Cooke song. Definately worth buying!

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My brother bought SOMEWHERE MORE FAMILIAR and I LOVE hearing 'All for You' on the radio, and so I purchased this cd. And it kicks tail. It's too fresh to know each song by heart yet, but have you ever bought some new music you just KNEW would be an all-time favorite? Meet Sister Hazel.

I think this cd is much better than SOMEWHERE MORE FAMILIAR. It sounds almost like Blackhawk sometimes (and if you don't know Blackhawk, take some of your hard-earned don and buy their first album!), but the almost familial relationship with Hootie and Edwin McCain is more clear as well. The cd's all acoustic, and the version of 'All for You' is just as good as the plugged one we can't hear but to dance to.

This is smart and enjoyable music. I'ld be SO shocked if you didn't agree.

---ewj

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