Enjoy the Ride - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
One of country's fastest-rising acts, Sugarland arrive at their follow-up to 2004's triple-platinum Twice the Speed of Life in a considerably altered state. Chief songwriter and founding member Kristen Hall is gone, and producer Garth Fundis (Trisha Yearwood) has been usurped in favor of crossover hitmaker Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill). One could argue that these are the predictable results of success--by opening for such megastars as Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn, the Atlanta-based trio was forced to retool its organic, singer-songwriter, folk-rock sound to fill arenas. And while their intricate vocal harmonies added a subtle creative dimension to their debut, Enjoy the Ride is made up mostly of songs ("County Line," "Mean Girls") constructed to showcase lead singer Jennifer Nettles's big voice in ways the previous album did not. While the repertoire was written by Nettles and surviving partner Kristian Bush in collaboration with proven songsmiths Bobby Pinson, Lisa Carver, and Tim Owens, much of the wistful intimacy of the first album is now diminished. Furthermore, it seems foolish to now call this act a duo, as Bush receives very little time in the spotlight apart from his vocal harmonies and performance on guitar and mandolin. None of this should matter on the charts, however, since the real focus was always on Nettles, whose twangy, force-field soprano more than carries the day. As before, the lyrics are upbeat and positive--if the message of the first album was of flight and searching, the theme here is of digging in. The winsome Nettles does a fine job of selling it all, positioning herself as the Ambassador of Optimism, the Deep South successor to Jo Dee Messina. --Alanna Nash

Album Description
Sugarland, with the help of producer Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack), deliver the same ferocity on Enjoy The Ride. From the catchy coming-of-age kick-off single and chart-topping "Want To," to the reflective rocker "County Line" and the hopelessly optimistic "One Blue Sky," the combination of Jennifer's powerhouse country-soul voice with Kristian's passionate harmonies and deep-rooted musicality hits home, even if these two road veterans, each with a decade of club experience behind them, hardly ever see theirs. "If we can't go home, we do in our minds," Kristian explains of their songwriting process, which on this record, includes collaborations with country artist Bobby Pinson ("Want To"), Brad Paisley's co-writer Tim Owens ("Settlin'"), old pal Jeff Cohen ("April Showers") and Nashville local Lisa Carver ("One Blue Sky," "Everyday America," "County Line," "These Are The Days"). "There's a sense of nostalgia," Jennifer continues. "You pull from the time when you were figuring out who you are as a person. Like in 'Want To,' it's not only a story of falling in love, it's about that moment or a choice that could change your life. And with 'County Line,' it's about a place where you have your first kiss or get in a fight or talk about football and that time when you felt most free."

Customer Reviews: Read 92 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

I Did Enjoy The Ride! November 11, 2006
18 out of 23 found this review helpful

The First time I heard "Baby Girl" I couldn't wait to hear it again, and that was how I felt when the first single "Want to" dropped from this new cd. However, there was plenty more of great songs where that came from and it's not always easy to Love songs on first listen but like "baby girl" this cd had plenty of them. "Settlin" and "Happy Endings" are two standouts as well. A wonderful 2nd ride with sugarland.

1 out of 5 stars

Country Nightmare November 14, 2006
8 out of 38 found this review helpful

Does Country Music get any worse than this? I don't see how because this album IS the worst of the worst. I am a huge country music fan and this album is disgraceful and shameful to country music. The long drawn out country accent sounds ridiculously fake, let alone awful. Kellie Pickler's accent on the flip side is authentic and sweet. Sugarland's rock n' roll mess should go under "heavy metal losers" not top of the list country. If you still insist on listening to this album than all I can say is Sweet Nightmares because that's what you're gonna have when you're through listening. SAVE YOUR MONEY and buy Kellie Pickler, Dolly Parton, Lynn Anderson, Carrie Underwood or other people who sing well.

5 out of 5 stars

Great from start to finish! November 29, 2006
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

I found that I liked Sugarland's sophmore CD even better than their debut CD.

I bought their first CD when I heard the single "Believe". I love that song. I enjoyed the CD, but "Baby Girl" and "Something More" were both so overplayed on the radio, I found that the only other song I liked on the CD was "Believe".

Anyway...due to that, I wasn't exactly holding my breath for their next CD...until I heard the single "Want To". I went out and bought the CD and I love it!

I always have a little more respect for artists that write their own music, I connect more to it I guess. I think they did a heck of a job with their writing...especially after losing a key member of the group.

This CD just about has it all...county, rock, acoustic. It's got love songs, feel good songs, small town songs and sad ballads.

Go out and get this one. It's worth it.

2 out of 5 stars

Baby Girl is gone December 2, 2006
8 out of 21 found this review helpful

Bring back the true genius behind Sugarland's debut - Kirsten Hall. Without her unique songwriting skills and backing vocals the band moves into the Kiddie Rides arena. Coupled with this mainstream producer, we have just another Trisha Yearwood or Faith Evens and the rest of the crooners taking up space in the "New Country" panopoly.

5 out of 5 stars

Another sweet spoonful! November 21, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Sugarland have been the underdog from the beginning. They were a band of songwriters formed in Atlanta that went to Nashville and got a record deal. That was a feat in itself. Then they came onto the scene and exploded like a pack of dynamite, selling three million copies of their debut album and watching their first four singles become monster top ten hits. That really got people's attention. People were captivated by Jennifer Nettles' powerhouse vocals and the band's bubbly, energetic sound and anthemic songs.

Although Jennifer and Kristian have experienced a bit of a setback with the departure of Kristin Hall earlier this year and had to throw this album together while on the road with Chesney and B&D this summer, neither has affected their sound. Jennifer's voice is as stunning as ever, and the productions are even better in the hands of the super talented Byron Gallimore. The new duo have the same knack for writing songs about the human condition that all people can relate to. "Everyday America" is a song about living in the moment and being proud of your small town roots. "Want To" is written from the perspective of a girl trying to enter into a relationship with a guy, but it's really about chasing your dreams and achieving your goals in life. "Happy Ending" talks about how we all look for the happy ending in whatever we do, from staying in the movie until the end to getting married or doing something that affects us all, like Dr. King and Neil Armstrong, who are referenced in the song. "Settlin'" is about finding your true love and not settling for anything less, which is what a lot of people are looking for. Another goody is "One Blue Sky", a song that was inspired by Hurricane Katrina about digging in your heels and staying in your hometown despite the conditions and praying for a clear day to clean up and go back to normal.

"How long til our dreams run dry?
Don't know but we're stayin'
On our knees we raise our eyes
Holdin' on and prayin' to find
One blue sky."

Sugarland shows that there ain't no sophomore jinx. With another collection of powerful songs and great melodies, it'll be sure to sweeten your collection. Enjoy this ride at twice the speed of life.

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