Sister Hazel - BAM!, Vol. 1 CD

BAM!, Vol. 1 songs Sister Hazel's major label debut is so catchy and polished, you'd think these guys had been around for years. This is earthy, folky pop with strong country and Southern rock influences, irresistible harmonies and hook-filled choruses. Sister Hazel's sound is familiar and contemporary, but there is an enthusiasm and optimism to their music, with lyrics like "And everything is wonderful/When everything's all right--so all right," from "Starfish." There's even a song called "Happy." Even the less joyful songs, like "So Long," are refreshingly simple and angst-free. Musically, Sister Hazel recalls pop groups like Hootie and the Blowfish as well as harder-edged, slide-guitar-driven Southern rock bands (lead guitarist Ryan Newell cites the Allman Brothers and the Freddy Jones Band as influences, among others). SOMEWHERE MORE FAMILIAR rings sweet and true in a world full of bitterness and cynicism. Recorded at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee on May 8-14, 1996. Personnel: Ryan Newell (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar); Ken Block, Andrew Copeland (vocals, acoustic guitar); Jett Beres (vocals, bass guitar, 5-string bass); Kevin Paige (piano); Mark Trojanowski (drums); Todd Schietroma (percussion). Audio Mixers: Erik Flettrich; Paul Ebersold; Brian Malouf. Recording information: Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN (05/08/1996-05/14/1996). Photographers: Jett Beres; Ken Block; Mark Trojanowski; Scott Hall. Sister Hazel: Ken Block, Andrew Copeland (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ryan Newell (acoustic guitar, slide guitar, background vocals); Jeff Beres (bass, background vocals); Mark Trojanowski (drums). Additional personnel: Kevin Paige (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Darwin Martin (Hammond B-3 organ); Todd Schietroma (percussion). Award Winner

BAM!, Vol. 1 album for sale This is a Hyper CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and also provides a link to the artist's website with the help of a web browser. Cognizant of the fact that adult contemporary folk-rock wasn't getting a fair shake on the major-label level, Sister Hazel opted out of its deal in order to self-release CHASING DAYLIGHT, the band's first studio effort since 2000's FORTRESS. Clinging to a straightforward rock sound that draws from the same well of inspiration as Hootie & The Blowfish and Counting Crows, this Floridian quintet has continued writing songs steeped in the intricacies of love and relationships. Frontman Ken Block has a particular knack for ruminating over heartbreak, loss, and devotion via the self-penned soaring desperation of "Your Mistake" and anthemic "Sword and Shield." These Gainesville rockers also hooked up with a number of famous songwriting collaborators including '80s pop star Richard Marx (the chugging "Life Got In The Way") and former Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch (an ethereal "Hopeless"). Other highlights include the soulful "Killing Me Too," jaunty "Swan Dive," and gorgeous, harmony-soaked "Can't Believe." Although there's nothing quite ground-breaking about CHASING DAYLIGHT, these dozen cuts are still a solid rock & roll effort that will undoubtedly appeal to those tired of pre-fabricated pop and puerile posturing. The band opted to move more from the major label mainstream back to their grass-roots fan base with this indie release. Chasing Daylight shows Sister Hazel's growth with everything from rock mantras to moving ballads. Sixthman label. 2002. Recorded at Nickel & Dime Studios, Atlanta, Georgia between July and September, 2002. Sister Hazel: Ken Black (vocals, acoustic guitar); Andrew Copeland (vocals); Ryan Newell (guitar, slide electric guitar); Jeff Beres (bass); Mark Trojanowksi (drums). Personnel: Ken Block (vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals); Andrew Copeland (vocals, background vocals); Ryan Newell (guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar); Daphne Volle, Delmar Pettys (violin); Susan DuBois, Tom Demer (viola); Jett Beres (bass guitar); Mark Trojanowski (drums); Tom Hurst (percussion). Audio Mixer: Don McCollister. Recording information: Nickel & Dime Studios, Atlanta, GA (07/2002-09/2002); Panhandle House, Denton, TX (07/2002-09/2002). Photographer: Kevin Ames. Unknown Contributor Role: Ken Park. Arrangers: Jett Beres; Ken Block; Mark Trojanowski; Andrew Copeland; Ryan Newell. Additional personnel: Susie Ager, Tomasz Golka, Delmar Pettys, Kurt Sprenger, Daphne Volle (violin); Tom Demer, Susan Dubois (viola); Debbie Brooks, Lisa Engle (cello); Marty Kearns (Hammond B-3 organ); Tom Hurst (percussion).

BAM!, Vol. 1 CD music After years without major-label support or a radio hit, Sister Hazel still had healthy album sales and a busy touring schedule in 2004. It's a good thing that the group decided to stick it out, because LIFT is one of Sister Hazel's most accomplished efforts. A hard-working road-warrior band, the Gainsville, Florida-based combo easily moves between Zippo-waving post-grunge ("Surrender"), RUMOURS-era Fleetwood Mac-style folk rock ("Hold On"), blistering Lenny Kravitz-like guitar heroics ("I Will Come Through"), and even a bit of Little Feat-esque Southern funk ("All the Love"). Like the latter, Sister Hazel seems to be able to play just about any style in an equally convincing, soulful manner, and, on LIFT, the diversity of the group's talents is on full display. Live Recording Audio Mixer: Skidd Mills. Recording information: 747 Studios, Memphis, TN (11/2003-04/2004). Photographers: Sam Erickson; Bryan Johnson . Arrangers: Ken Block; Drew Copeland; Ryan Newell; Jett Beres; Mark Trojanowski. Sister Hazel: Drew Copeland (electric guitar); Jett Beres (bass instrument); Ken Block, Mark Trojanowski, Ryan Newell. Personnel: Ken Block (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ryan Newell (guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Jonathan Chu (violin, viola); Richard Thomas (cello); Scott Hardin (piano); Skidd Mills (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Jett Beres (bass guitar); Mark Trojanowski (drums); Drew Copeland (background vocals).

BAM!, Vol. 1 buy CD music On their sixth studio album, Gainesville, Florida's Sister Hazel sticks close to the upbeat, strummy pop-rock formula that made them popular on campuses and AAA radio stations throughout the mid-1990s and forward. And though their music is as comfortable and familiar as a flannel shirt and worn-out jeans, they are capable of delivering powerful rockers like the single "Mandolin Moon," featuring sparkling vocal harmonies on the chorus; the aching power-ballad "One Time;" and the riff-heavy, bluesy rocker "Shame," that sounds like a lost Steppenwolf track. Sister Hazel: Ken Block (vocals, acoustic guitar); Drew Copeland (vocals, electric guitar); Ryan Newell (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Jett Beres (bass guitar); Mark Trojanowski (drums). Additional personnel: Shawn Mullins (background vocals).

BAM!, Vol. 1 songs Recorded at live at House Of Blues, Orlando, Florida on September 6, 2003 and at The Masquerade, Tampa, Florida on September 13, 2003. Personnel: Ken Block (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ryan Newell (guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Jett Beres (bass guitar); Mark Trojanowski (drums); Andrew Copeland (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Skidd Mills. Recording information: House Of Blues, Orlando, FL (09/06/2003/09/13/2003); The Masquerade, Tampa, FL (09/06/2003/09/13/2003). Photographer: Sam Erickson. Sister Hazel: Ken Block (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ryan Newell (guitar, slide guitar, electric guitar); Andrew Copeland (electric guitar, background vocals); Jett Beres (bass); Mark Trojanowski (drums).

BAM!, Vol. 1 album for sale Best known for the 1997 Blues Traveller-esque mega-hit "All For You," Sister Hazel is often lumped in with jammy, acoustic-oriented acts like Guster and Hootie & the Blowfish. What many miss, however, is the band's strong southern-rock influence. Hailing from Florida, home of genre icons Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws, Sister Hazel has always imbued its music with a bit of swamp & roll, from the country-ish twang of the vocal harmonies to backbeats that place an emphasis on the back. On 2009's RELEASE that vibe was more apparent than ever before; the record features a renewed emphasis on sharp songcraft, allowing the group's Dixie roots to shine through on uniformly strong, natural-sounding material. The title track's banjo and yearning vocals recall the tear-in-my-beer work of New Traditionalist country singers such as Aaron Tippin and Randy Travis, while "Better Way" puts a modern, post-grunge slant on melancholy, lighter-waving ballads like Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone." Elsewhere, the album references Beatle-esque pop ("Ghost in the Crowd") and Tom Petty-style roots rock ("I Believe in You"), all the while maintaining the upbeat vibe and tight ensemble playing that made Sister Hazel a favorite on the national touring circuit. Lyricists: Ken Kelly; Lindsey Kelly; Chuck Carrier; Emerson Hart; Ken Kelly; Britton Cameron; Jett Beres; Ken Block; Mark Trojanowski; Mike Daly; Pat McGee; Ryan Newell; Stan Lynch; Drew Copeland. Personnel: Ken Block (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ryan Newell (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin); Andrew Copeland (electric guitar, background vocals); Ali Flanagan, Adrian Decosta, Swang Lin, Kurt Sprenger, Adriana DeCosta, Swang Lin (violin); Kristi Swanson, Susan DuBois (viola); Debbie Brooks, Keira Fullerton, Debbie Brooks (cello); Bill Smith , Bill Airey Smith (strings); John Deaderick, Darwin Martin (piano, organ); Mark Trojanowski (drums); Stan Lynch, Tom Hurst (percussion). Audio Mixers: Don McCollister; Chip Matthews. Recording information: 11/2008-03/2009. Editor: Ken Kelly. Photographer: Leann Mueller.