Kneejerk: Sister Hazel – Willy Porter

Welcome to the latest edition of KNEEJERK, where we preview some new releases and give our short, "kneejerk" reaction...


Sister Hazel “Heartland Highway”

The prolific Sister Hazel is back with another serving of their brand of organic pop rock. Sister Hazel is best known for their smash hit “All For You” from the 90s, and if you ask most people they probably think the band dropped off the face of the earth after that breakthrough – not true! Sister Hazel has been quietly but consistently delivering some of the best guitar driven rock ever since, and “Heartland Highway” keeps that spirit alive. No autotune, no synths, no synthetic anything…just pure music based on a mix of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, and strings. As usual, the band continues to write about positive things to match their sunny musical disposition – “Stay Awhile” is about hanging in there, “Great Escape” is about taking time to absorb the things that make life worth living, and “Far Away” is an anthem of reassurance to a loved one. There are so many likeable tunes on this one, but the upbeat “Let The Fire Burn” is the one I find myself wanting to go back to the most. True to the record’s name, there is a palpable flavor of heartland rock, especially on “The Saddest Song” and “Where You’re Going”. The band does something new on this one, too – a three song saga at the end entitled “Lessons in Love, Hope, and Faith”. In short, another winner from my brothers in Sister Hazel.


Willy Porter and Carpe Diem “Live at BoMA”

Take an extraordinary talent like Willy Porter and pair him with the acclaimed Carpe Diem String Quartet and you have a match made in heaven – or at least something that rivals the Reese’s chocolate peanut butter cup. “Live at BoMA” captures this magical collaboration, featuring seven previously released fan favorites rearranged with the quartet. The beautiful performances from Carpe Diem do not take away from the jaw dropping skills of this extraordinary acoustic guitarist, who plays a 9-string guitar custom designed by him, but synergize and elevate the songs to new heights (you can read our review of Porter’s last effort, “How To Rob A Bank” here). “Live at BoMA” marks his eighth release and is a perfect introduction to Porter’s gift, and makes a great addition to any fan’s collection.

Free mp3: Sister Hazel "20 in '10"

Wow! This is amazing...Amazon is offering 20 of Sister Hazel's greatest hits from their more recent albums on a collection called "20 in '10"...FOR FREE!

See our review for Sister Hazel's latest studio effort, "Release".

Don't miss it! Click here to download.

Review: Sister Hazel "Release"

The prolific songwriting team of Sister Hazel is back with their latest, "Release". The depth of their songwriting well never ceases to amaze me - Ken Block just released a solo record not long ago (reviewed here), but he and the boys are back with another remarkably strong set of songs...and in my opinion, one of their strongest sets since the masterful "Fortress" from 2000.

Most people know Sister Hazel from their breakout hit, "All For You" off 1997's "...Somewhere More Familiar". Since that sophomore record, the band has been quietly cranking out fantastic acoustic-based rock at a breakneck pace (almost one album a year). "Release" is their seventh studio release, not counting a couple of great live albums and solid solo efforts from band members along the way.

As usual, Sister Hazel sounds great - they really have found their groove after all these years. The trademark harmonies are plentiful, the acoustic guitars are shimmering, and the drums keep a dynamic and steady pace. The band treads no new ground here, but they have a proven formula and why fix what isn't broke? Best of all, each song sounds like it received the same care and attention any band would give towards a single.

Interspersed among a bunch of very good tunes are some downright excellent ones, including "Run For The Hills", "I Believe In You", and the title track (co-written by Emerson Hart of Tonic). Other notable contributors on this effort include Pat McGee and Stan Lynch (Tom Petty). Sister Hazel was clearly in the zone while writing and recording "Release", one of their best efforts in an already outstanding discography. Get this one right now - it is super cheap at most major retail outlets. Help make this one their lucky seven and get Sister Hazel back on the charts where they belong!

iPOD-worthy: ALL TRACKS

Sister Hazel on MySpace. Official site.

Free MP3: Ken Block and Drew Copeland of Sister Hazel

Holy crap! Go get the solo releases from members of Sister Hazel for FREE at Amazon.com.

Ken Block "Drift" for free here! (review on BMF here)

Drew Copeland "No Regrets" for free here!

Free mp3 - Sister Hazel

Sister Hazel has a new album coming out August 18.

In the meantime, SYNC is offering a free mp3 of an acoustic version of the new song and title track, "Release" - check it out.

Review: Ken Block "Drift"

"Drift" is the first solo CD from Ken Block (Sister Hazel). After a few listens, it is a bit unclear to me why he bothered to do a solo project that sounds nothing unlike Sister Hazel. His Sister Hazel bandmates contribute extensively to this record, most notably Drew Copeland . Drew's vocal support produces the trademark Sister Hazel harmonies. In essence, there is virtually no "drift" from Sister Hazel at all, perhaps explaining why I like this record so much.

Ken Block explores familiar lyrical terrain on "Drift", pondering life's mysteries with a sense of humor and sarcasm. He challenges us to converse about the big questions, most notably on "We Don't Talk Anymore", as he reflects upon life in his charming and sometimes self-effacing way. There is an abundance of good acoustic-based rockers on this one, with several nice ballads thrown in for good measure. Thankfully, "Drift" is not a mere collection of Ken's inferior songs that the guys from Sister Hazel might have vetoed.

"Blue To A Blind Man" is a gentle opener featuring Ken Block in a rare duet with the beautifully sweet voice of Maile Misajon. Ken kicks up some dirt with the crunchy mid-tempo rocker, "The Other Side". He recounts his previous struggle with addiction in "Completely Wasted", gives Steve Miller a nod in "It's Alright" (hoo hoo), and rides high on an alt-country rocker called "I Don't Mind" (video below). "Better This Way" sounds like a sequel to "Champaign High", but it doesn't top it. The record has a very strong finish with a string of standout tracks such as "So Far", "Ride", and "You and Me".

Ken Block is one of the most genuine and honest songwriters out there today. If you enjoy "Drift", you should become a "Hazelnut" and forage into his complete discography with Sister Hazel.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12

Ken Block on MySpace. Official site.

Check out the video for "I Don't Mind":