Twice the Speed of Life (CD - 2004)

Sugarland: Kristen Hall (vocals, guitar); Kristian Bush (vocals); Jennifer Nettles.

Personnel: Jennifer Nettles (vocals, background vocals); Kristian Bush (acoustic guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Kristen Hall (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Dan Dugmore (electric guitar, steel guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro, banjo); Tom Bukovac (electric guitar); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Brandon Bush (organ); Greg Morrow (drums, maracas, shaker, tambourine, percussion); Chad Cromwell (drums); Steve Brewster (percussion); Garrison Starr, Garth Fundis (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Matt Andrews; Chuck Ainlay.

Recording information: Sound Emporium Studios, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Julie Dennis Brothers.

Fronted by the seriously soulful vocalist Jennifer Nettles, Sugarland is a trio that makes immediately accessible, radio-ready country-pop. Singer/songwriters Kristen Hall and Kristian Bush comprise the other two-thirds of the group, and together they generate a sound that is equal parts backwoods twang, urban-cowgirl glamour, and suburban working-class malaise, a mix that will undoubtedly appeal to all three demographics. TWICE THE SPEED OF LIFE is Sugarland's full-length debut, and it fulfills the promise of its major-label status by delivering the goods in full.

While the crisp production, Nettles's gospel-inflected alto, and Hall and Bush's sweet, multi-part harmonies are what catch the ear on first listen, the secret weapon here is the quality of the songwriting. "Something More" bemoans the dreariness of 9-to-5 life and yearns for transcendence in its memorable, sing-along chorus. "Hello" is a lilting, mid-tempo narrative of an idyllic romance, while "Down in Mississippi (Up to No Good) is the sort of rollicking party anthem tailor-made for wild nights on the town. In short, Sugarland has all the makings of major country-pop act. minimize