Sister Hazel formed in 1993, with all five members of the group familiar faces in the Gainesville, Florida music scene. They forged a pop oriented sound that merged varying styles ranging from country, folk, alternative rock and pop (and more). The sound resonated with fans and quickly earned them fame and hits.
Sister Hazel
Originally released independently, Sister Hazel's 1994 eponymous album was picked up by Universal after the group hit it big with their second release. The first album was made up of demos the group recorded to use for attracting gigs and label attention.
Only one of the band's hits is included on the release ("All For You"), and it's an acoustic rendition. However, the disc laid the foundation for the type of sounds the band would create down the road of stardom. It's of interest mostly to hardcore fans, though.
...Somewhere More Familiar
"...Somewhere More Familiar" hit stores in 1997. Since the first album was a collection of self-released demos, the major label debut exceeds that release in terms of production quality. The single "All For You" is included on this album, as is "Happy." It continued the same musical direction the first disc had established, but is a more polished and refined version of the sound.
Fortress
Sister Hazel's 2000 release bears the title "Fortress." That title might suggest a rigid structure. That could lead one to believe the disc would continue the sounds of its predecessor. In some ways that assumption was true. However, "Fortress" found Sister Hazel stretching their musical direction a bit, wandering into psychedelia and creating rather complex arrangements. Still, it was close enough to their base sound to please their fans.
Chasing Daylight
By 2003, Sister Hazel had found themselves off the major label circuit. "Chasing Daylight" was their first independent release (since the debut) and found them searching for relevance. While it's a solid disc, it feels strained at times. Certainly the changing musical tastes since their debut had worn on the band. The album feels like they were searching for a new direction, and a bit lost. Sometimes it seems like they were trying a little too hard.
Lift
What a difference a year can make. While Sister Hazel's 2003 release had seemed a bit strained, "Lift," released the following year seems a natural continuation of the Sister Hazel sound. Sure, it relies a little heavily in the mellower side of the group, but it's quite effective in carrying on their pop rock traditions.
While Sister Hazel achieved mass audience success early in their career, pop music tastes are often fickle and short-lived. That fact found the band searching for a musical identity. Their live performances, though, kept a vital audience for the group. By the time they released "Lift" they seemed to have become comfortable in their own musical skin and the trend would continue beyond that album.
