CD Review
This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.
These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.
Artist: Sugarland
Album: Love On the Inside (2008 Deluxe Edition – Mercury Nashville)
Tracks: 12 + 4 Bonus tracks + 1 Live track
Artist website: http://www.sugarlandmusic.com
OVERVIEW :
This is the third studio album of Country Music sensation Sugarland. We first heard of Sugarland while watching CNN and they were playing “Everyday America”. So we looked for the latest Sugarland release.
There is one thing that I want to say at the very start of this review and that is this: modern country pop has some of the best arranging skills on display. If you want to learn how to arrange pop music effectively, this is the music to be studying.
That said, the arrangements on this album are very good. The musicianship is fantastic. While modern pop has exchanged solid musicianship for a quick buck with a make-up laden pop starlet, country music still cares about good musicianship.
Over all, this is a very good effort.
HIGHLIGHTS:
It Happens, Take Me as I Am, What I’d Give
PLAY BY PLAY
Track 1 – All I Want To Do
Not a bad opening track.
Track 2 – It Happens
Very catchy! We liked this one.
Track 3 – We Run
Awesome singing chops! Very simple arrangement that highlights the vocals perfectly.
Track 4 – Joey
Very catchy for a mid tempo song. I’m astonished by the arrangement again. Great!
Track 5 – Love
This song didn’t really wow us.
Track 6 – Genevieve
The vocal production on this track is almost gospel like.
Track 7 – Already Gone
Cool 6/8 slow song.
Track 8 – Keep You
Good.
Track 9 – Take Me as I Am
This song is a rock song. We liked it and we would like to hear more like this from Sugarland.
Track 10 – What I’d Give
Very soulful. A+
Track 11 – Steve Earle
Cool track.
Track 12 – Very Last Country Song
Very pretty track! Less is indeed more!
Track 13 – Fall into Me (Bonus Track)
Very pretty track.
Track 14 – Operation: Working Vacation (Bonus Track)
This one made us smile!
Track 15 – Wishing (Bonus Track)
Nice ballad.
Track 16 – Life in a Northern Town (Bonus Track featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen)
This didn’t do anything for us.
Track 17 – Come On Get Higher (Live Bonus Track)
We didn’t really care for this one.