[.ca] Chasing Daylight

From Amazon.com:
Gainesville, Florida's Sister Hazel would have you believe that resuming indie status has given the band renewed vitality, and judging by the sheer force of Chasing Daylight, you'd probably be inclined to agree. Opening with a trio of songs that are shamelessly buoyant, the band makes clear its determination to craft anthems, and they're not about to let lost love stand in the way of a hooky chorus, as songs like opening track "Your Mistake" make clear. The relatively somber ballad "Best I'll Ever Be" divides the disc between its utterly accessible first half and slightly more adventurous last half, but generally speaking, the quintet stays on point, delivering smooth, sing-songy country-dusted roots-rock full of wide-open spaces and palpable longing. Skynyrd is subtly noted in the dirty guitar graffitied across the opening of "Swan Dive," though their Florida brethren never had the vocal harmonies mustered by Sister Hazel at full tilt. And while a full string section adds shadow and nuance to these compositions, Chasing Daylight is straight-up, radio-friendly, and as comfortable as worn denim. --Kim Hughes

This is not in the same league as Fortress:
I honestly don't see how this album could get better reviews than "Fortress". Of the few songs on here that are strong not a one stands up to what Sister Hazel did on Fortress or Somewhere more Familiar. Please don't get me wrong I am a huge Hazel Nut, but I must say that this album borders on tedious. The song "Your Mistake" has all the qualities of a Hazel classic as does "One Love", but both sound like they've been done before. I also thought the sonic quality of the album was not as dynamic as Fortress - in this case the bass and drums seem to drown out the rest of the mix. This album does not suck by any means but it doesn't raise the bar either. I eagerly await the next Sister Hazel offering and will not miss them when the come to town!

Nothing devestatingly new, but wonderful anyways:
I have to admit that other than their radio hit "All For You" many years ago, I hadn't heard any work by Sister Hazel until I picked up this release. When I did stumble onto this album though, I was pleasantly suprised with what I found. Initially I was hooked by the first tracks on the album, which would have been catapulted to the top of the alternative charts a few years ago in the days when Vertical Horizon was a dominating force. Tracks like "Your Mistake", "Come Around", and "One Love" remind me a ton of V.H., but with a bit more validity and less poppy overproduction. And I don't think there isn't anyone who is either in love, or has lost it who wouldn't feel an extreme connection to "Best I'll Ever Be." For the first few weeks these were the tracks I stuck to, until I eventually realized that the rest of the album was just as good, just a bit less accessible. "Everybody" has a funk bounce to it that reminds us of what Sugar Ray should have been, and "Swan Dive" is a fun peppy alternative track, which would sound just like everyone else if the guitar tracks weren't so good in places. However, the tracks that I really fell in love with were "Killing Me Too", and "Sword and Shield". "Killing Me Too" is one of the most dynamic songs I've heard in a long time. I love how you listen to it and it just kind of flows for so long, and then it slowly builds into this crashing epic. As for "Sword and Shield," no one can deny how fun it is to hear a great electric guitar solo in an age of cookie cutter tracks with no variation. This track reminds me of arena rock veterans such as Oasis with it's soaring sound. Admittedly nothing here is overly fresh or new, nor is any of it devestatingly deep. However it's really hard not to praise this album because it's just so damn appealing and accessible. With feel good tracks like "Come Around", and emotional moments with "Best I'll Ever Be", Sister Hazel has proved that they can appeal to many different senses and are a band worth checking into again.

Listen to it again.....:
I first heard of Sister Hazel at a concert in Okinawa Japan. They had the lead singer from the Dexter Freebish band helping out singing and playing lead guitar. This band is awesome and has came a long way from that first album. I came home, bought their album and all the one's prior to that. When Chasing Daylight came out, my first listen was like WOW! It is everything I expected from Sister Hazel and more. THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME! As a 40 yr old that still likes to rock, but still not a metal head, this is a good unadulterated, talented composition of music. Not just some kid stroking on the strings but sharing their art of putting good music together. If you don't have this album in your collection and you like Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo dolls, Vertical Horizon, etc. shame on you! GOOD STUFF MAN!

Awesome Cd:
I first heard sister hazel on the radio. After hearing there first hit "life got in the way" i went out and bought the cd. This cd is a great cd, it has every type of song, slow, fast, soft rock, its a great cd to have. After buying this cd i went out and bought all there other cds. These guys are awesome!!!!!!!!!!

An excellent CD by an excellent band:
Sister Hazel is a band whose music is a unique mix of rock, pop, country, and bluegrass that is simply irresistable. The stands out due to its four-yes four- guitarists and the unique metallic voice of lead singer Ken Block. Chasing Daylight continues the band's streak of excellent albums. Beginning with the wonderful "Your Mistake" and ending with the equally great "Can't Believe," this is a CD without a weak point. Other highlights include "Come Around" and "Best I'll Ever Be." Like many bands, Sister Hazel is not for everyone. The group prefers arena rock style jams to slower more understated numbers, which they can also do. Don't let the Amazon.com review fool you, this is not a band that has lost its "vitality."

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