Search - Sister Hazel :: Absolutely

Better than "Lift"

Wesley Wilson | Chapel Hill, NC | 08/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sister Hazel is back with their sixth album. Lift was a bit of a departure in style from Chasing Daylight and Fortress, but in Absolutely, the band goes back to the tunes that made Fortress and Chasing Daylight such big hits. While I enjoyed Lift, even lead singer Ken Block said the band didn't like playing songs from that album on tour as much as they did songs from their previous recordings. The thing I love about all SH albums is you can listen to them all the way through... they have a great flow and feel. I think Absolutely will eventually be my second favorite SH album -- right after Chasing Daylight. If you like some of the SH hits like "All for You," "Change Your Mind," "Happy," and "Your Mistake," than this album is for you. If you've never listened to Sister Hazel but like the Goo Goo Dolls, the Counting Crows, Richard Marx or Edwin McCain, then plop down the money on this album, and you'll be pleasantly surprised.



Absolutely Track Listing:

1. Shame - will likely be their second single... I really think Shame will turn out to be a popular song on this album, but I think it sounded better live than on the album.

2. Mandolin Moon - first single... you can listen to this whole song (and Shame) on Sister Hazel's MySpace page... catchy tune, good vocals

3. Meet Me In The Memory - great song probably my favorite on the CD... Richard Marx helped write it... look for it on YouTube

4. Beautiful High - when I first heard this song, I thought it might be my favorite on the album, but now it's probably at best fifth -- that's how strong the album is.

5. Hey Hey - song really picks up, SH varies slow and faster songs well on the album... this song is almost playful in nature and reminds me a little bit of their song "Superman"

6. Hello It's Me - nice bridge between the sound in Hey Hey and Tear by Tear

7. Tear By Tear - classic SH sound... expect an acoustic version of this to come out in the future... one's already out on YouTube

8. Where Do You Go - great lyrics... Block and the band have some songs that you can remember the words long after and this is one of those

9. Anyway - heard this song live, too at Isle of Palms... great song with a terrific beat

10. This Kind Of Love - slow song, deep lead... I think Drew is the lead singer here unless someone else joined them for this song which is definitely possible.

11. Truth Is - weaker song compared to some of the others... not a big knock on this song... the other songs are just better.

12. One Time - more classic SH sound

13. Everything Else Disappears - almost has a country feel to it... strong lyrics and a great way to end the album



Rumor has it there's a bonus track, too."

"Absolutely" Amazing

C. Meadows | Bradenton, FL United States | 10/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When a band has released so many awesome albums, you always wonder if the next one will live up to the others. Sister Hazel has "ABSOLUTELY" done it again! This album has the perfect blend of upbeat sing-a-longs as well as their classic ballads that you can label as soundtracks to your life. I am hooked on this cd, and can't even pick a favorite song. Of course "Hey Hey" is catchy and "Beautiful High" makes you want to hit the repeat button, but then you want to get to "This Kind of Love" still. Wow, there are so many great tunes. Thank you Sister Hazel for staying true to yourself and producing another amazing album!"

SISTER HAZEL REBOUNDS

Stephen Scott | Tulsa, OK United States | 10/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first listened to "Somewhere More Familiar," "Fortress" and "Chasing Daylight," Sister Hazel did not have to grow on me. I loved just about every track when I initially heard them. That did not happen with "Lift," which left me disappointed.

Fortunately, the Florida quintent has returned to previous form in their latest release, "Absolutely."

Gone is the intentional intrspection and melancholy mood, making this album much more happy, lively, and carefree. Ironically, the tracks work better at pulling at your heart, soul, and mind. It leaves the audience revived and inspired instead of sad over all the imperfections of life.

This is not to say the five-force tandem does not let us look within a little. This is apparent in "Tear by Tear" and "Everything Else Disappears." While the former has somber lyrics that help the audience shed pain, the latter forces us to smile and move on with life.

Probably my favorite is "Where do You Go?" which is an obvious lament by someone who has lost everything to a hurricane. Ken Brock's vocals almost bring you to tears as he sings, "I can't find out how she got inside to drown us ... I'm not so sure anymore what's next/or if there's anything left for us ... where do you go? what do you do? when all you have left is hanging on you?"

One of my complaints for most albums, of the past and present, is that the group only had one two three good songs, and the rest were [...]. That is not the case for Sister Hazel. All their songs have a life of their own. Moreover, they do not get in a rut. They proove that a musical group can be innovative and creative both lyrically and musically. They mix the acoustic and electric guitars so well that the sound is rich to the ear just as a perfect chocolate cake is to the taste buds.

True, the themes are still the same: love, regret, renewing a lost love, etc., but they know how to say it different and better.

This is evident in the oustanding tracks like "Mandolin Moon," "Beautiful High," "Where do You Go?" "Meet Me in the Memory," "Truth Is," and "One Time."

I have always said I would rather go blind than deaf. For one thing, if you go blind, the other senses compensate for the loss of sight. That does not happen when one goes deaf. Even worse, if you go deaf, there is no way to listen to a Sister Hazel album."