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"Twice the Speed of Life" (10/26/2004) Country Sugarland, Mercury NashvilleSugarland includes: Kristen Hall (vocals, guitar); Kristian Bush (vocals, mandolin); Jennifer Nettles (vocals). Sugarland: Kristen Hall (vocals, guitar); Kristian Bush (vocals, mandolin); Jennifer Nettles (vocals). Recording information: Sound Emporium, Nashville, Tennessee. 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.

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"Jason Aldean" (07/26/2005) Country Aldean, Jason, Broken BowThis is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel include: Jason Aldean (vocals); Adam Schoenfeld (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Mike Noble (acoustic guitar); Jack Sizemore, Kurt Allison (electric guitar); Michael Johnson (steel guitar); Smith Curry (lap steel guitar); Jason Mowery (mandolin, fiddle); Steve King, Tony Harrell (keyboards); Tully Kennedy (bass guitar); Rich Redmond (drums, percussion). Jason Aldean has been slugging it out as a professional singer since high school, and the confidence gleaned from years of experience shines though on his self-titled debut album, as he delivers a strong collection of blue collar-themed songs in a smooth, polished tenor. Lyrics about philosophical farmers ("Amarillo Sky"), small-town pride ("Hicktown"), and moments of spiritual insight ("Good to Go") are backed by twangy, honky tonk-ish Telecaster licks and rock-influenced country rhythms of the Alabama/Sawyer Brown variety. "Asphalt Cowboy" is a contemporary update of classic 1970s lonesome-trucker songs (complete with weeping steel guitar), while "You're The Love I Wanna Be In" borrows licks from 1980's AOR power pop of the .38 Special/Rick Springfield mold. Chock full of variety and energetic performances, JASON ALDEAN is a great introduction to a promising talent.

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"The Bocephus Box: Hank Williams Jr. Collection 1979-99 [Box]" (08/29/2000) Country Williams, Hank, Jr., Curb Records (USA)Personnel includes: Hank Williams, Jr., Willie Nelson (vocals); Reba McEntire, Reverend Ike, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Clint Black, Tom Petty. Producers include: Barry Beckett, Jimmy Bowen, Phil Gerhaard, Jim Ed Norman, Ray Ruff. Compilation producer: Jimmy Guterman. Includes liner notes by Jimmy Guterman.

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"Ride" (05/03/2005) Country Fairchild, Shelly, Columbia (USA)Like many so-called "overnight sensations," Shelly Fairchild chalked up years of performing experience before hitting the Billboard charts with her Columbia Records debut, RIDE. The one-time star of the Patsy Cline musical ALWAYS and a veteran of several other Broadway touring productions, Fairchild developed an enviable stylistic adaptability and a voice powerful enough to reach the cheap seats. These qualities serve her well on RIDE, an album chock full of both gusty country-rockers and gentle, earthy ballads. A Mississippi native, Fairchild has an obvious love for the blues, as evidenced by the swampy, Bonnie Raitt-like phrasing on "Kiss Me" and "Down into Muddy Water." "Ready to Fall" is a fiery song set to a stomping Waylon Jennings-inspired beat. The album's standout track, however, may be "Eight Crazy Hours (In the Story of Love)," an existential, angst-laden tale of a lonely woman's life-defining day, delivered with a deep sensitivity that is unusual for a debut artist. Diverse and mature, RIDE is an excellent first effort from this promising performer.

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"Ten Thousand Angels" (04/30/1996) Country McCready, Mindy, BNAPersonnel: Mindy McCready (vocals); Don Potter, Tom Hemby, Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar); Dann Huff (electric guitar); Sonny Garrish, Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Mary Ann Kennedy (mandolin, background vocals); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Jimmy Nichols (strings, piano, keyboards, background vocals); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Terry McMillan (harmonica); John Hobbs (piano); Richard "Spady" Brannan (bass); Paul Leim (drums); Kathy Burdick, Norro Wilson (background vocals); Richie McDonald. Engineers include: Kevin Beamish, David Malloy, Jimmy Nichols. Recorded at Sound Stage, Malloy Boys Studio and Javelina Recording, Nashville, Tennessee. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. You should know this much, going in: Mindy McCready makes '90's Nashville music. Country-inflected, slick but slightly rocking, big-sounding, American music. Unlike so many of her Nashville sisters, however, McCready seems willing to tackle some real issues: double-standards in relationships, for instance. In pure, clear fashion, she twangs, "Get over it honey, love's a two-way street/Or you won't be a man of mine/Sure I had a few beers with the girls last night/Guys do it all the time." But McCready isn't all brass and chutzpah. "Have A Nice Day" is unadulterated country at its best, an almost painful snapshot of two people separated by circumstance, yet precipitously close to being lovers. It's a song about what a woman wants to say, yet knows she can't. McCready delivers this tale with power and real emotion. It's a song about a moment, a real-life moment. Isn't that what country's all about?

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"Billboard #1 Country Hits of the '80s" (09/17/2002) Country Various Artists, Flashback Records

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"Greatest Hits" (11/09/2004) Country Twain, Shania, Mercury NashvillePersonnel include: Shania Twain (vocals); Mark McGrath, Billy Currington (vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, nylon-string guitar); Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar); Michael Thompson (electric guitar, slide guitar, E-bow, bouzouki); Dan Huff (electric guitar); Nashville String Machine (strings); Arthur Stead (organ); Joe Chemay (bass guitar); Paul Leim (drums, percussion); Mutt Lange (background vocals). Recording information: 1995 - 2003. With the help of her husband, "Mutt" Lange, a legendary producer who helmed mammoth hits by AC/DC and Def Leppard, Canadian songstress Shania Twain developed a highly commercial style of country-tinged pop music that helped her become one of the biggest stars in America. Though GREATEST HITS doesn't include the two major singles from her 1993 self-titled debut, Twain has released so many hits that the 21-track disc is still overflowing with familiar chart-busters. Listening to these ubiquitous songs all in one stretch will leave listeners awed at the breadth of Twain and Lange's incredible talent for catchy pop ditties that sound cutting-edge while still retaining that ever-important hint of Nashville twang. In fact, though laced with the usual fiddles and steel guitars, many songs end up recalling ABBA and the Cars as much as anything south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Of course, the main attraction is always Twain's smoothly sensual voice, which has won over millions of fans worldwide.

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"Aces" (08/27/1991) Country Bogguss, Suzy, Liberty (USA)Personnel: Suzy Bogguss (vocals); David Campbell (conductor); Gerald Alan Boyd (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Brent Rowan (guitar); Tommy Spurlock, Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Richard Bennett (tiple, guitar); Danny Parks (fiddle); Mark O'Connor, Sam Bush (mandolin); Kirk "Jellroll" Johnson (harmonica); Joey Miskulin (accordion); Matt Rollings (piano); Johnny Neel (Wurlitzer piano, keyboards); John Jarvis (keyboards); Leland Sklar (bass); Eddie Bayers (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); The Gay Caballeros (hand claps); Vince Gill, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Harry Stinson, Karen Staley, Rick Yord, Victoria Shaw, Jana Stanfield (background vocals). Recorded at Emerald Sound Studio, Nashville, Tennessee.

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"Greatest Country Songs" (03/29/2005) Country Lee, Brenda, Curb Records (USA)Personnel: Brenda Lee.

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"Greatest Hits (Delta 2-CD set)" (08/19/2000) Country Haggard, Merle, Delta RecordsThough hits throughout the 1960s and '70s like "Okie From Muskogee," "Fightin' Side of Me," and "Workin' Man Blues" established Merle Haggard's redneck reputation, there has always been more than one side to the conservatively inclined country singer. As this double-CD set shows, Haggard is also capable of writing tender love songs like "Always Wanting You" and "Carolyn," both of which display unexpected emotional depth, while the nuanced "It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad)" demonstrates a hard-edged realism tinged with sadness.

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"Live From Austin TX [Digipak]" (11/01/2005) Country Yoakam, Dwight, New West Records, Inc.Recording information: 1988. Released in 2005, LIVE FROM AUSTIN TX presents a Dwight Yoakam concert from 1988, when the relative newcomer was touring in support of his lauded third album, BUENAS NOCHES FROM A LONELY ROOM. In addition to his top-notch backing band, Yoakam is joined by master accordion player Flaco Jimenez and country legend Buck Owens, who duets with the young maverick on his signature tune, "Streets of Bakersfield."