Sugarland - Love on the Inside       

Sugarland’s newest CD, “Love on the Inside,” is like a step back in time, back to a light, mostly acoustic instruments and high quality songwriting.  An additional surprise was the stronger than ever harmonies between Nettles and Kristin Bush. 

There are two versions of the CD available—the regular CD with 12 songs and the deluxe (just a few dollars more containing an additional 5 tracks and some video cuts).  Once you hear the CD, you’ll want to spend the extra for the deluxe edition. 

The CD’s first cut and Sugarland’s current single, “All I Want to Do,” is a smooth, fun toe-tappe, but hardly the best of the new songs.  The ballad, “Love” questions just what love is: 

“Is it the face of a child
Is it the thrill of danger
Is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger
Is it more than faith
Is it more than hope
Is it waiting for us at the end of our rope
I say, it’s love
I say, it’s love” 

The song, “We Run” sound like it was lifted from the Appalachian area, while “Joey” is an enigma – with lyrics that suggest Joey is no longer with us but never actually saying that – all we know from the sadness in Nettle’s voice and the lyrics is that there are many unspoken regrets. 

The best track is the sultry “What I’d Give”: 

“What I’d give to make you coffee
Find out how you like your eggs
Wrapped around you in the morning
A tangled lace of arms and legs.” 

Bush and Nettles co-wrote all but 2 of the songs and with Bush’s playing and more prominent singing, Sugarland is sounding more and more like an equal partnership between two very talented songwriters/performers.