Photo by:
Enjoying Enjoy the Ride, Sugarland’s sophomore album is so easy even non-country fans will be hard pressed to not tap their fingers along to the snappy melodies or sigh with the wistful ballads.
The new-coming but fast rising country band has gone through some changes since its debut release Twice the Speed of Light, which spawned the inescapable “Babygirl.”
The former trio has lost its third member Kristen Hall and the feeling on this album is definitely different, but different doesn’t always mean bad. This album showcases lead singer Jennifer Nettles voice beautifully showing its range and slightly gravelly emotion. Kristan Bush, the other remaining founding member, has a bigger role and some great solos.
The first single (and third track) on the album, “Want to,” is a practically impossible combination of yearning and realism. Instead of the sappy love song full of unrequited, longing that one would expects, the listener gets that exciting and excruciating dance that goes on between friendship and romance.
“The whole world could change in a minute/Just one kiss could stop in spinning/We could think it through/But I don’t want to, if you don’t want to,” sings the chorus a gentle reminder of the risk involved.
The sixth track, “These are the days,” offers a great duet between Nettles and Bush, and showcases Bush’s vocals and his considerable skill on the mandolin. The string instrument adds a sweet, plucky side to this song about digging in any enjoying today, your location and your situation.
“Mean girls,” track nine, offers a tongue-in-cheek look at the culture among females and wins for foot-tapping, up-tempo songs on the album. Nettles voice has all the freedom in this song which is as fast as it is hilarious.
“Mean girls/Well, I ain’t a mean girl/but I have known a few/they’ll make you cry/and then blame it on you” sings the first verse. It is started with a hot riff provided by Bush and spurred along by a driving drumbeat. While this is the best of the up-tempo offerings, Settlin’ and County line are not far behind.
“April showers” and “Stay,” tracks eight and 10 respectively, are both slower “ballads” that again convey emotion without being cloying sweet. “April showers” uses the well known phrase “April showers bring May flowers” as a metaphor for a change in the relationship and the ability to get through it.
“Stay” is Nettles with an acoustic guitar, and this song needs nothing else. This song is plaintive and about being the “other woman” at the end of the road with a dead-end relationship.
“I’ve given you my best/Why does she get the best of you?” sings Nettles who also wrote the song.
This CD truly is a pleaser with on-point lyrics and great melodies. It is the perfect addition to any collection and has potential to be one of the best road trip CDs. Come summer the youthful exuberance will be great for a warm day with the car windows open.
