Straightjacket Hymns by The Daze

Envy Magazine Review of Straightjacket Hymns 4 out of 5 “
At 74 minutes, The Daze’s debut album Straightjacket Hymns is overstuffed. If the songs were tedious it would be a death sentence, but The Daze perform with vigor and ambition that make them seem like road-tested pros. The fact that the three members—guitarist/vocalist Evan Butts, drummer Aaron Lemke, and bassist Chris Ritchie—have only 59 years between them is shocking. Stylistically the LP ranges from hard-bound blues rockers (“Blizzard Woman Blues”) to jangled-up road songs (“To Hear a Sound”). Butts’ commanding voice and often virtuosic guitar playing lead the charge, but instead of soloing away like a madman, he blends I with Lemke’s Bonzo drumming and Ritchie’s liquid basslines to create passages that are reminiscent of the hypnotic haze of Modest Mouse. The best melding of their playing prowess and sophisticated sound arrangements are “Come, Child,” “Song for Newborn,” and Heart of Darkness-inspired “Center of the Earth.” But a few minutes could have been trimmed from the 16-minute closer “Smithereens,” and to the album as a whole. It’s the one factor keeping Straightjacket Hymns from greatness, but The Daze are close enough on their first try to be very scary.” -Jack Frink

Austin Monthly Review of Straightjacket Hymns 4 out of 5 stars
“The Daze incorporates many influences on its debut, Straightjacket Hymns: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Dr. Dre, The Carter Family, Bob Dylan and more all show up on the 13-track album. Sounds chaotic, but The Daze pulls it off. The group flows effortlessly from the power chords of “Red” to the delicate, simple melody of “In a Day” to the grand, Latin-infused “In Spite of Any Doubt” [sic]. There’s plenty for everyone. Let’s hope the trio can keep blending genres without losing its identity.”

Austin Chronicle Blog Review of Straightjacket Hymns "Once you get around the fact that this album is essentially a clinic in musicianship, Evan Butts’ lyrical sophistication offers a whole new level of appreciation for Straightjacket Hymns. Butts displays great talent as a lyricist, narrowly avoiding clichés with a brilliance so subtle it’s difficult to pick up on. My personal favorite track is “In a Day,” a watery tune with lovesick lyrics that read like Petrarchan poetry. The album is ripe with radio-friendly singles like “Blizzard Woman Blues,” a short but sweet track reminiscent of the White Stripes and Black Keys. The Daze show impressive musicianship throughout the album, often ascending into long musical interludes that don’t deter from the accessibility of the music. Though it is no secret where The Daze draws their influences from, they make it their own, and deliver it with honesty. With a silver screen appearance in Bandslam under their belt and Rick del Castillo as their advocate and producer, it would be no surprise if Straightjacket Hymns served as a break out for these Austin rockers."