The Incredible Machine

Sugarland keeps exploring what it is really capable of

Various music styles representatives have been widening their limits lately although there are those who insist that it is necessary to preserve traditions. Some changes have also happened in country music during the last ten-fifteen years. Pop tunes or rock ballads on a country album can hardly surprise anyone, and these tendencies keep developing. One of the bands that disagrees to remained at once-achieved level is the duo Sugarland. Vocalist Jennifer Nettles possessing an amazingly strong and big voice and multi-instrumentalist Kristian Bush (acoustic and electro guitar, mandolin, violin and many others) have been pleasing the genre fans with their original hits for six years now. 2008 saw the release of their third album Love On The Inside with the singles All I Want to Do, Already Gone and It Happens which one by one took the top position on country charts. This year Sugarland returns with the fourth record The Incredible Machine on which the musicians have bravely gone even farther exploring what they are really capable of.

Country rock, folk rock, bluegrass, classic rock on The Incredible Machine

Country rock, folk rock, bluegrass, classic rock – all these genres together take place on The Incredible Machine. Sugarland, sometimes serious and sometimes easy-going, never cease their active search of their true selves and it is hardly possible to blame them for that. The album opens with an impressive rock-composition All We Are perfect for a stadium performance – it is a real anthem about life and people, with a faultless bass line and a catchy chorus. The title song Incredible Machine conquers with a contagious riff, modulating keyboards and a melodious vocal part, it is definitely one of the album’s highlights. The single Stuck Like Glue is a very joyful story of a girl’s unreciprocated love with the girl feeling she is too obtrusive, while Tonight has a slight retro flavor and gets the closest to classic country. The ballad Stand Up is refined with Bush’s singing and a melodious acoustic guitar – this song would sound great on stage, too. A complicated melody and a country arrangement make the charming simple girl’s story Every Girl Like Me quite a pretty track, whereas another acoustic ballad Little Miss with a moderate tempo is remarkable for a splendid vocal part and a bit sad lyrics. Another optimistic track Find The Beat Again can inspire anybody who has found oneself in despair, and the song Wide Open reminds us once again that this a country album we are listening to due to the great guitars and drum work. The album closes with a marvelous piano ballad Shine The Light with Jennifer accompanying herself to a soulful optimistic song full of peace and comfort.

The country music in its newest interpretation

Those who have been following Sugarland in its creative work have already found out that the duo feels best on stage – Jennifer puts all the power into her voice against the background of loud applauds which leaves an unforgettable impression. Yet recording The Incredible Machine, the band members have managed to relax and have some fun indeed giving way to their sense of humor. At the same time they have paid maximum attention to the quality of arrangements which have actually resulted to be faultless. As for Nettles’ vocal it sounds especially good on ballads such as the final track, while one can admire her distinct diction and sparkling emotions on the up-tempo compositions. It will not be too much to say that the album The Incredible Machine has proved to be Sugarland’s most vivid, varied, emotional and experimentally brave album with which the musicians are sure to attract new fans to the country music in its newest interpretation.