Twice the Speed of Life

Amazon.com A surprise hit in 2004 and 2005, this Atlanta-based threesome arrived on the scene at precisely the right time--when country trios (Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, and to a lesser extent, Trick Pony and SheDaisy) had proved themselves in the marketplace. Like those acts, Sugarland trade on solid and sometimes intricate harmonies and a killer lead vocalist. In this case, the full-tilt Jennifer Nettles plays Natalie Maines to Kristen Hall and Kristian Bush's Emily and Martie. And while it would be lovely to hear another member of the trio out front occasionally, Nettles, a deep-dish Southerner who knows no one-syllable words ("air" is "aye-er"), is a commanding presence. Stylistically, the group mixes it up, from the folk-rock of Hall and Bush's backgrounds to the driving pop that dominates much of contemporary country radio; thematically, the songs largely revolve around restlessness, the need to escape restrictions and find one's self, and the faith that things will work out. "Baby Girl," the hit about an itinerant musician writing home for money and emotional connectedness, is but one of several surefire winners here, which include "Something More," a mid-tempo quest for a more meaningful life, and "Tennessee," in which a radio request line rescues true love. The quieter songs ("Fly Away," "Hello") are no less well written and affecting, even as the barnburning "Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good)," about housewife ennui and riverboat gambling, falls embarrassingly flat. Does this triad have staying power? Well, just as their name implies, they're a little too sweet to equal the Chicks' gravitas, but there's no denying they've got energy to burn. --Alanna Nash Product Description This is the debut album from Sugarland that features the new single "Baby Girl." About the Artist It’s no surprise that three successful singer/songwriters with years of experience can make an album filled with solid, intelligent music. But even the members of Sugarland themselves are slightly shocked by how fresh-sounding and unfailingly optimistic the songs they make together are. Each individual career of this Atlanta-based trio seemed headed in an opposite direction. Jennifer Nettles, a powerhouse singer with some serious twang was working steadily on the local club circuit. Kristen Hall, a singer/songwriter specializing in searing heartache, has two well-received solo albums. Kristian Bush, a local folk/rock hero, is one-half of Billy Pilgrim, a duo with a major record label deal. Within minutes of getting together, the trio clicked, creating something completely different than anything any of them had done before. The songs are rootsy and lyrically sophisticated, but still catchy and accessible. Somehow these niche artists have found themselves making mass-appeal country music. Four months after getting together, Sugarland played their first gig and were astounded by the audience reaction. By their fourth gig, they were selling out 1000 seat venues. Two weeks later, they signed a contract with Mercury Records. "We were just trying to write stuff that was fun," Bush says, still a bit amazed by the trio’s fortunes. It all began with a phone call. Hall contacted Bush to see if he was interested in writing together. At the time, Bush felt that Billy Pilgrim had become more work than fun. He found himself at a crossroads in his life when his wife became pregnant and his mother died unexpectedly. Hall also at a crossroads had built a name for herself with two albums for High Street/Windham Hill, which were comprised of soul-baring songs that split her open each and every time she performed them. "They were driving me into the ground," she says. "Every night I sang them and every night they kept me in that place, and I just wanted out." From the start, Bush and Hall felt their creative energies build on each other. Realizing they might be on to something, they figured that they would need a singer. They approached Nettles, a popular local blonde siren with a big, twang-tinged voice combining the power of a Mississippi soul singer and the warmth of a country crooner. As it turns out, she was looking to try something new too. When the trio first convened in Hall’s basement, they began working on "Baby Girl." Just as they seemed to be hitting a groove, Hall disappeared. She returned a few seconds later laughing hysterically in between tears. "She was just so moved," says Nettles. "We connected so well and the sound was so good, it was such a fun sound. There was a moment when we just said, ‘Wow.’" The three of them decided to form a pact. They weren’t looking for a club-level career. That’s something they all had been enjoying for years. Instead, they opted to dream big from the start. Bush says, "We thought, ‘If we’re going to do this, let’s go all the way. Let’s hit it out of the park. We know what we’re doing and how to have fun doing it.’ We thought, ‘Let’s go play arenas, let’s make a record with 10 singles. Let’s do
ASIN: B000640XPW
VSKU: 5ALWH0000B5R_ns
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:SUGARLAND
Binding: Audio cd
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The case shows normal wear and is in good condition. The original artwork is included. The CD shows very minor wear if any at all.