There is something to be said for the charm of leaving a few rough edges around both songwriting and production. Sister Hazel has always written consistently strong cuts in the alternative rock vein. While contemporaries like Matchbox Twenty and Train have had a higher level of popularity, in many ways this band has produced better music. This album is no exception. It just seems like they have gotten too good at producing the classic pop rock song. The quirky, slightly rough around the edges sound that was always present in their work is gone on most of this. The production is generally flawless, too. Both of these things take away a bit of the charm. Still, the disc is populated with catchy and potent alternative rock hits. They get a bit adventurous on "I Will Come Through", wandering into the musical territory of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lenny Kravitz. The end result here is a strong album that could have been a little stronger with a little less effort towards achieving perfection. Everything on the album works reasonably well, and some songs are exceptional. I guess my advice to the band for their next disc would be, "don't try so hard."

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2005 Year Book Volume 3 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2005.