When Sister Hazel first emerged, their style of alternative rock merged with pop music was the kind of sound that regularly graced the airways and produced hits. That allowed the group to rise to prominence.
As the tides of popular fashion often do, though, musical tastes changed and Sister Hazel found themselves without a major label deal. Rather than giving up, the Gainesville, Florida outfit used the change of fates as an opportunity to get greater control of their career, turning independent and exploring various musical options.
Absolutely
While the later period of Sister Hazel's career allowed them some room to grow in terms of musical style, there isn't a lot of the sound development to be found on 2006's "Absolutely." The album is notable for a guest appearance by Richard Marx. While the disc doesn't have any big surprises, it delivers a suitably tasty version of the type of pop rock Sister Hazel has always done so well.
Before the Amplifiers: Live Acoustic
Although Sister Hazel released sort of a novelty item disc of holiday music in 2007, the real follow up to "Absolutely" was the 2008 live album "Before the Amplifiers: Live Acoustic." It was recorded in a studio in front of a small audience.
The acoustic treatments of Sister Hazel mainstays provided a rather intriguing musical experience. The stripping down process allows many of the tracks to reveal new ideas and concepts. The group never fail to entertain in any event.
Release
Sister Hazel's 2009 album was entitled "Release." The key concept to the album was the group's decision to allow each member to write songs for the disc. Each member contributes at least two cuts. The result is a disc that stretches the Sister Hazel formula in new directions, while still maintaining a recognizable sound.
The disc isn't perfect and some tracks work better than others. Still, the talent shows through on every number. The disc allows some definite alteration in the Sister Hazel formula, and that's a good thing. There's no question after spinning this disc that Sister Hazel are talented and each member brings some unique influences to the table.
Heartland Highway
In 2010 Sister Hazel released "Heartland Highway." The title seemed to conjure up images of driving along the great American highway, along with echoing a type of vibe often created by groups like America. Really, in many ways Sister Hazel's sound is not that far removed from the soft pop rock of such groups.
The disc finds Sister Hazel continuing the same basic musical concepts, but making enough strides at expanding the sound to keep it from becoming stale or old. This group has an accessible and almost formulaic pop sound without ever giving the impression they are calling in their performances.
Sister Hazel focus heavily on live performance and maintain a busy touring schedule. They have shown a desire to interact with their fans and create the type of sounds that please their loyal followers. No matter what albums Sister Hazel create in the future, it's likely that those factors will remain constant.
