Record Review - 3 July 22 2000

As was the case with Sister Hazel's breakthrough hit "All for You," you'll swear you've heard the 14 tracks on the Gainesville, Fla., band's sophomore effort Fortress before. Whether you dismiss Sister Hazel as another Matchbox 20 or Hootie and the Blowfish, one thing is obvious: they know how to write catchy pop/rock numbers, like Fortress' first single and leadoff cut "Change Your Mind." It's perfectly crafted for arena rock sing-a-longs.

Although none of the songs on Fortress are particularly enlightening, they don't mine the sentimental, preachy or clichéd too often either. However, a safety net approach pervades throughout. "Surreal" borrows from "Let Love Rule"-- era Lenny Kravitz, complete with electric piano riffing and crunching guitars. And "Beautiful Thing" comes close to "Brown Eyed Girl" sha-la-la-lah-ness during the chorus. The guitar break in "Strange Cup of Tea" recalls Journey's "Stone in Love." The Black Crowes would be envious of "Save Me," with its Southern slide guitar licks and rolling juke joint piano.

Still, with all of its immediateness, faceless qualities and uncanny familiarity, Fortress doesn't come off as particularly bland. Recorded at Atlanta's Nickel and Dime Studios, the production is top notch — not stiff, but natural sounding. That's what happens when you have veteran knob twiddlers Paul Ebersol (who produced Sister Hazel's debut and the current hit album by 3 Doors Down) and Cheap Trick producer Richie Zito behind the control panels.

Sister Hazel plays the Roxy, July 21-22.