Customer Reviews

Somewhere More Familiar

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This college Band grown up in Gainesville, Florida has done a fabulous job incorporating fun, and musicality into a great CD. Ken Block's lead vocals and Andrew Copland's backup harmonies make you immediately want to learn the words to every song on Somewhere More Familiar. There is a relationship in their melodies that makes you want to really learn how the band started and how these two guys got together in the first place. Great Rhythm and a superb guitar lead make this one of the most fun CD's I own. It never fails to perk you up and make you groove. Adjectives to best explain Sister Hazel's sound on this CD would be Southern Rock raised in the Florida Sunshine, brought up on Gator football, sand-filled shoes and all night dance parties. I would link them to Tom Petty and maybe Matchbox 20 without any troubled childhood. They are much more fun than any band I can describe, but not buble-gum pop. They are just "Happy" to be plaiyng music it seems to me. Great music from some real musicians.

Like a lot of people, 'All for you' was the first Sister Hazel song I heard. It sounded like the kind of music I like and when I bought the album I realised that there was much more to this band! ITs an upbeat happy-go-lucky album which may be comparable to Cracked Rear View. My favourite tracks are Happy, Look to the children and Cerilene and like all good albums people will have different favourite tracks. There is a lot of good music around but Sister Hazel seem to have an extra spark. The band seem to have VERY good music theory and technique and brought together give us the sound of Sistser Hazel. Lots of acoustic guitars and electric fills. Infact, the solos are nothing short of amazing in places, just when I thought the standard of lead guitarist was going down. But dont get me wrong, this is more then just a guitar album (altough guitarists can learn a lot from it). The songs and vocals are of a very high standard and I'm surprised Sister Hazel is almost unknown in England. If you liked All For You then get this album and you will love it. Also, check out their self titled album - it has more great Sister Hazel songs on aswell as an acoustic version of All for you!

This CD will be played well into the decade as a classic on the radio. I was impressed with the amount of good material on it. There is often a track that I'll skip on CD's that I buy...not this one. I try to let people know what a band is like by using comparisons...but this band is a mix of so many sounds. Chances are, if you enjoy John Cougar Mellencamp, The Counting Crows, Blues Traveller, or even Jimmy Buffet, you are going to really like Sister Hazel. Most of the songs are upbeat and keep you listening. Definetly one of my favorite Cd's that I have purchased in the last 6 months.

"Somewhere More Familiar" by Sister Hazel is an incredible mix of good, sound music with inventive and inspiring lyrics. If you listen closely, you can hear the Allman Brothers influence in those great guitar solos. This combination of classic southern rock and modern pop makes for great songs like "All For You", "Happy", "Wanted it to Be", and "Concede". This CD is a definite must for any music lover, especially for all the romantics who will enjoy "Concede" and "Cerilene" thoroughly! There are some incredibly romantic lyrics that you can steal and use for your girlfriend as long as she's not a Sister Hazel fan, guys!

Im in a band and we play the song 'All For You' so I went out and bought this CD. I thought it would be like the others i buy; i like one song and thats it. But was I amazed by this entire CD! Every song was great, though my personal favorites are All For You and Starfish. I would highly reccomend this album to anyone looking for a good CD!

This is one of my favorite albums. I consider it a guilty pleasure, as it is shameless pop. There is nothing new here. The dual guitar is all Allman's, the harmonies are hyped up Everly's.

If every there was an album made to be played on the radio, it was this one. Every song is loaded with hooks and is akwardly endearing. Definately a summer record, definately a feel good record.

Sister Hazel puts on a heck of a live show, however. I expect a band that has such shameless radio appeal to be weak live, but Sister Hazel rocks live.

This is a great album to pick you up when you're down, or just to play anytime. The production is superior. Even your crummiest speakers will sound great playing "familiar"

I never had a favorite band until I heard Sister Hazel at Centennial Park in Atlanta and bought the album. Not a "B" side on it! Every song is a hit, and the great harmonies the guys make are great to listen to no matter what the weather, no matter what your mood. A great combination of upbeat music with great messages! To top it off, each of the members is probably the best musician in their field, especially drummer Mark Trojanowski and lead guitar Ryan Newell. This is a must-have album for anyone who needs a break from rock and roll.

This thing is a work of art. Every summer since this album came out in '97 I get S.M.F. out and It immmediately puts a smile on peoples faces. This is an album you can play at a great early evening Avalon Deck Party/Cookout. Starfish is a fantatic jam song. Cereline is soulful. and well...All for You is a powerhouse singalong. These guys have another album released in 2002/03 called "Chasing Daylight" that is nearly as perfect if you need a pickup and a smile. get em both and see em live.

If you have never heard Sister Hazel, you are in for a treat. Soulful music that speaks to everyone's heart. And if you have never seen them in concert, you are surely missing out. There is an energy in this band that revives the weary soul. Imagine 6000 people singing every song at the top of their lungs.
Sister Hazel is an Everyman band. I challenge you to find one song that does not truly move you or that you cannot relate with.

My vote is to put this band on the cover of Rolling Stone!

I bought this CD because (get this) my aerobics class does a routine to "All For You" and I fell in love with the song, despite the kicks and lunges that get me sore and sweaty. After listening to All For You three hundred times, I let the rest of the CD play and discovered that it's absolutely excellent. "Happy" has a great beat and sing-along pace. I think they sound a little like REM. You guys keep recording and I'll keep doing aerobics.