41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE is all you need. . ., July 24, 2008
While I enjoyed Sugarland's first two albums, which produced a total of 7 Top Ten hits, I felt there was a bit too much filler. So I'm delighted to report that Love On The Inside is a very solid disc all the way through. I was intrigued by pre-release comments from Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush that the album would break new ground for the band. And while LOVE does find the duo stretching their musical muscles a bit, fans will be happy to learn it's not that different from what we've come to expect from them. Here's a few highlights:
ALL I WANT TO DO is one of those love-it-or-hate it songs. And no matter on which side of that fence you find yourself, once that incessant chorus gets stuck in your head, you may never shake it off.
IT HAPPENS is a fast and funny song, with some ingenious wordplay from Nettles
WE RUN is traditional Sugarland: Love and longing wrapped around a solid modern-country beat
JOEY is a sad number about losing a friend to a drunk-driving accident. The chorus is simple yet effective.
LOVE is easily the album's best song, and is probably the U2 reference Nettles has referred to in interviews. The band builds from a whisper to a scream, with Kristian Bush adding some rough but passionate vocals to the mix.
TAKE ME AS I AM casts Nettles in the role of a hotel custodian named Maggie, asking simply to be loved in spite of her faults. "I ain't saying I'm perfect/But I promise I'm worth it."
STEVE EARLE is a comic highlight, although it's probably funnier if you know anything about its namesake.
OPERATION: WORKING VACATION is a fun, silly number which is growing on me.
LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN, their cover of the 1985 Dream Academy hit, has gotten plenty of exposure on the internet. And it's a great number, although guest stars Jake Owen and Little Big Town detract somewhat from Nettles' performance.
As I said above, there's not really a bad song on the disc. The band sounds like they're having fun, and potential breakout star Nettles is in fine form. Even if she decides to go solo one day, her pronounced twang and ability to write her own material will (hopefully) keep her from becoming the next Faith or Shania. For now, Love On The Inside is best Sugarland has to offer.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get the other edition, August 3, 2008
This is a good album, but if you're thinking that the "fan edition" might just have extra crap on it, guess again. Sugarland actually made some odd decisions about which tracks to relegate to the "fan edition" and some of the tracks that are extras are actually better than some that made the cut for the "real" album. The first three "extras" are much better than "All I Want to Do" (yeah, I know it's the single), the juvenile "It Happens" and the bonus-material-if-there ever-was-one, "Steve Earle." Do yourself a favor and pick up the "Deluxe Fan Edition" while it's still around rather than settle for this one, which is good, but has some questionable choices.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Raise the bar high... and then just a little bit higher!, July 22, 2008
First off... I LOVE this record!
If it's even possible, the songs on the album got my heart to smile and soul to dance... and it's impossible not to feel SOMETHING* when listening to it! I laughed at times (the ending to 'Steve Earle' is hilarious), I cried at times ('Keep You' and 'Fall Into Me'), I got up and boogied at times ('It Happens') and at times I just smiled ('Love', 'We Run', 'Come On Get Higher').
With their last record, which was pretty darn good, Sugarland "raised the bar high" musically... and they continued to do so with this album. It's a lot of fun, but also packs in a lot of heart and, as the title suggests, love.
*(I've also come to the conclusion that, if someone doesn't feel anything when listening to this record, they must have a little black coal heart.)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No