The follow-up to Sugarland's multi-platinum debut Twice the Speed of Life, their latest album, Enjoy the Ride, successfully sidesteps the "sophomore curse," but loses a bit of the group's subtle flair along the way.
Originally consisting of Atlanta natives Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush and chief songwriter Kristen Hall, Sugarland has gone through a few notable changes since the success of their first album. Not only has Hall left the group, but Sugarland has also chosen to switch things up and work with producer Byron Gallimore in place of Garth Fundis.
Although still filled with country twang and sass, the second album spotlights Nettles' gutsy soprano as the lead, with Bush relegated to a vocal backup. Additionally, the loss of Hall and addition of Gallimore, who is known for his work with crossover stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, has definitely left it's mark; Sugarland has less small-town charm on its second record.
Despite the loss of the wistful poetics of their first album, Sugarland is still holding strong as the new country darlin'. Only in a few tracks, most notably the token we'll-put-a-boot-in-your-butt patriotic track "Everyday America", does their slightly commercialized sound ring a bit hollow and come on a bit thick. Otherwise, Bush's guitar riffs and Nettle's brass and passion more than fill the bill for the uplifting, blue-collar country rock tracks including "County Line" and "Settlin'". With an infectious beat and a booming sound, Enjoy the Ride will help you do just that.
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