Enjoy the Ride

Jennifer Nettles is a brashly charismatic singer able to convey the unfettered optimism of her band’s songs. Enhanced by Kristian Bush’s harmonies, Nettles’ forceful vocals rise to heroic heights on tracks like “Settlin’” and “County Line.” “One Blue Sky” finds glimmers of hope in a devastated New Orleans, while “Sugarland” recreates the simple joys of small-town Texas. Acoustic guitars and mandolins add a pleasing contrast.

The punchiness of the album’s sound should allow it to continue Sugarland’s commercial hot streak.