Sugarland's 'Incredible Machine': Eclectic country
Kristian Bush, left, and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland perform in Central Park in New York. Credit: AP Photo
Sugarland's new album, "The Incredible Machine" (Mercury Nashville), shows how eclectic today's country music can be. From the U2-styled anthemic opening of "All We Are" to the faux reggae of the playful single "Stuck Like Glue" (complete with Jennifer Nettles' Jamaican-by-way-of-Nashville accent), it quickly becomes clear that the country band has all sorts of new inspirations.
The problem is they don't know how to harness it. The gorgeous ballads "Tonight" and "Shine the Light" will please fans of their hit "Stay," but the Katy Perry-ish pop weirdness of "Wide Open" careens out of control. Sometimes, a little focus goes a long way.
Sugarland: "The Incredible Machine"
GRADE: B-
BOTTOM LINE: Country sunshine filtered through murkier ambitions
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