The Incredible Machine

Sugarland | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: October 19, 2010
• Release Date: October 19, 2010
• Label: Mercury Nashville
• Copyright: (C) 2010 Mercury Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 42:39
• Genres:
  • Country
• ASIN: B00469KLIC
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (176 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,877 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 87 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The same incredible pipes, but a completely new attitude October 19, 2010

By Thomas E. Davis TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Country music fans have been waiting two years for Sugarland's newest, and they will not be disappointed - unless, that is, they expect more of the same. This CD is nothing like the three albums they released in 2004, 2006, and 2008. It's far less twangy and far more rocking, as much Melissa Etheridge as Dixie Chicks.

This may be good or bad news, depending on how you feel about the change. Incredible Machine has the biggest sound the band has ever produced: sweeping, stadium-filling anthems that show off Jennifer Nettles' commanding voice, especially the first two tracks, "All We Are" and the title song. The third track is the already-released single, "Stuck Like Glue," a radio-friendly hit that epitomizes country-pop, with a brief, strange detour into reggae-rap.

The fourth track, "Tonight," is a heartfelt ballad that bears an uncanny resemblance to the aforementioned Etheridge. The fifth, on the other hand, contains the harmonies and themes we've come to expect from Sugarland. Called "Stand Up," it gives Kristian Bush his first solo vocal part on this CD and has the potential to be a huge hit on country radio.

The album's second half kicks off with the very peppy "Every Girl Like Me," followed by another Nettles showcase, a fine country ballad called "Little Miss." The next track is unfortunately the least successful song on the CD, "Find the Beat Again," in which Nettles sounds for all the world like Deborah Harry of Blondie fame. Whatever this song is, it ain't country! The album concludes with a straight-ahead rocker produced for the Winter Olympics, "Wide Open," and a gospel ballad accompanied by solo piano called "Shine the Light." Both are powerful, but the former is irresistibly catchy while the latter is positively conventional....

What to make of this outing? I enjoy rock and power ballads, and since we've heard plenty of traditional country songs from Nettles and Bush, I'm inclined to give them the freedom to experiment. But the CD is definitely a crossover, so country purists will call it a mixed bag at best and an utter betrayal at worst. If that happens, it will be a shame, a negation of the many enjoyable musical moments on the album. And who cares what they think? I liked it. Read more ›

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!! November 15, 2010

By eme620

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sugarland has done an amazing job evolving with each album. You never get the same thing, which I think, is a really good thing. If you're expecting a true country album, this may not be for you. BUT this album is so inspiring and so much fun! I pre-ordered it and it hasn't come out of my CD player or off my iPod since October 19th. I highly recommend it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Modern country duo bids for crossover audience November 19, 2010

By hyperbolium

Format:Audio CD

On their third album, modern country duo Sugarland (Jennifer Nettles-vocals, Kristian Bush-guitar/vocals) makes a bold bid for cross-over success. How well their effort succeeds depends on where you sit as a listener in the country-pop spectrum. Fans of modern country music may feel this forsakes the few threads of country roots that remain in Nashville's productions. Ironically though, fans of earlier, twangier country music may be willing to take Sugarland's arena-ready rock productions as just that - something fully divorced from Nashville's faint echoes of roots music. Taken on this latter axis, Bryan Gallimore's outsized productions - enormous drum sounds, slashing electric guitars, heavy echoes and the ubiquitous "programming" - make a good impression.

The duo's original songs are catchy and Jennifer Nettles' voice cuts through the rock backings like a fog cutter in a thick bank. When the productions occasionally lighten, as on the lead single "Stuck Like Glue," the music turns into modern day bubblegum, with riffy lyrics, cute singing and a toasting bridge that suggests Gwen Stefani in Music City. One might argue about whether Sugarland's previous albums had already moved far away from traditional country sounds, but The Incredible Machine puts the conversation to bed as the duo openly bids for modern rock success with power-ballads like "Tonight" and a heavy dose of studio effects. The closest the album comes to even modern Nashville's notion of country is "Little Miss," but even here the song grows from acoustic guitars into a heavily wrought production.

The reggae beat and rapping passage of "Every Girl Like Me" are sure to alienate some of the group's long time fans, though more on principle than musical value.... Ditto for the punchy pop-rock "Find the Beat Again," which sounds as if it could be a hit for one of Disney's teen stars. None of this is really news, as the group hinted in these directions all along, and modern country production has become a virtual second home for modern rock sounds. If you held on to your U2 tickets through Bono's back problems, you'll find the sound of Sugarland's latest to your liking. You won't find Bono's philosophical world outlook in the lyrics, but you can shuffle this into a mid-80s mix of Simple Minds and Big Country without any tears or fears. [©2010 hyperbolium dot com] Read more ›

33 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Incredible Machine October 20, 2010

By H. Kloran

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Why does everyone seem to be getting hung up on genre ?

This album is nothing less than spectacular. I liked back in the day when artists like Queen, Prince & David Bowie [to name but a few] would have a a diferent sound on each album, yet still sound like themeselves. Sugarland has done this w/ The Incredible Machine. I would rather an artist give the fans something new and intersting, thus helping them grow, rather than xeroxing what previously worked [i.e. taylor swift .. all of her tunes sound almost exactly the same].
Sure The Incredible Machine isn't a country album by any means but it is great. The title track is very atmospheric and moody and for being 5 min goes by way too quickly. Little Miss will work well on country radio. Shine The Light is this album's Stay, moving and heartfelt.
To those that expect a certain sound from an artist I say: OPEN YOUR MINDS and do not pidgeon hole YOUR music tastes.
My only complaint is that the cover art is kinda bland. Sugarland spent a lot of time and effort creating a fantastic set and costumes using the steam-punk style for the concert tour, but it didn't transfer on to the CD cover.