“Stuck Like Glue,” the first single from Sugarland’s upcoming fourth studio album (titled The Incredible Machine) is 2010’s most infectious acoustic pop song, and proof positive that Jennifer Nettles is one of music’s most incredible machines.
With a voice equally powerful and agile, and endowed with both incredible technical precision and soulful tonal textures, Nettles sings and, at times, it feels like an awakening—as if you’re remembering, for the first time in a long time, what real talent sounds like.
She isn’t just a capable singer, or a good singer. She’s an undeniably great singer.
It’s the devastating desire she breathes into the lyrics of “Stay.” It’s the way she convinces us she’s pouring out the deepest confessions of her soul on “Keep You.” It’s the sublime pensiveness she draws out of “Very Last Country Song.” And it’s the glee she infuses into “Stuck Like Glue.”
If Nettles isn’t loving every note of this performance, she’s music’s best liar. “Stuck Like Glue” bursts with joy, exuberance and contagious energy.
The lyrics are inane, and cover much of the same territory as “All I Wanna Do,” the debut single from the duo’s previous album. And musically, the two tracks aren’t dissimilar—both feature sprightly melodies and arrangements that bounce along to Kristian Bush’s bright rhythm guitar.
Conceptually, however, “Stuck Like Glue” is bigger and more adventurous, and Nettles stretches further than she did on “All I Wanna Do.” From the opening notes—which she delivers from the upper regions of her vocal register—to the color she whispers into song’s quieter moments, she explores an unusually large patch of melodic landscape for this type of light-hearted, feel-good song.
Pair this masterful performance with Byron Gallimore’s deliciously upbeat arrangement and you have a chunky piece of bubblegum confection that works on every level—providing, along the way, a prime example of how musicality can trump narrative. That the song’s chorus contains more soundplay than corporeal storytelling matters little here, thanks to a melody that fully wriggles its way into your head.
It even works when, in the song’s bridge, the arrangement breaks down to just percussion as Nettles adopts a reggae accent and busts out a lyrical jam. The change of pace is a little disorienting, though not because it doesn’t fit—it’s just wholly unexpected. There’s not a single mainstream country artist besides Sugarland who would attempt such a thing, much less have the skill to effectively pull it off.
By the time country radio gets done overplaying the hell out “Stuck Like Glue,” you’re probably going to hate it. It’s the kind of song the burns hot but quickly, fueled by unadulterated excitement. Over time, and after experiencing it time and time again, that excitement will fade. That’s just the life cycle of this type of song.
That’s why they’re so special. They’re immeasurably difficult to create, and they tap in to a primal, organic energy that heftier, wordier, more cerebral material can’t. “Stuck Like Glue” is about rhythm and movement.
So, for now, just get up and dance.
Spot on review. I honestly was fully expecting not to like this, since I’ve read a ton of complaints about it, but I really dig it. I still don’t like “All I Want to Do”, but I can hear the positive comparison. It’s the wackiest song for sure, but it’s pretty awesome. I can’t help but smile. Then again, I do have an unexplainable weakness for catchy ear candy like “It Happens.”
I love how you can almost hear her smile in her songs. Especially this one when she says “you do that thing that makes me laugh…” Amazing artist.
Thanks for the comment ladies.
@Leeann: I was surprised I liked it, too.
What an articulate review of this song! Jim, you hit the nail on the head with the description of Sugarland’s ability to write, record and perform such diverse material and bring so many emotions to the table in each of them.
However, I don’t agree 100% with your statement that Jennifer Nettles is one of music’s most incredible machines. I’ll give you props for the play on words, but I think fans and critics tend to forget that she (and Kristian) are human beings. Yes, they may seem to be the Energizer bunny disguised as country music’s reigning award-winning duo….but at the end of the day, they have limitations too. Last year was rough for Sugarland touring-wise because of Jennifer’s delicate health issues that forced the duo to cancel shows and put the preservation of her voice & health first.
Hopefully those decisions mean that there will be more incredible music to come from Jennifer and Kristian for a long time. They have opened the doors to country music and welcomed so many new fans because of their innate gift to write a song about the human experience – which everyone can relate to – and perform it in a way that celebrates a genre based on tradition while also pushing the limits to defy that very genre. When it comes down to it, Sugarland is in a category high above many and in a genre all their own.
To me, “Stuck Like Glue” follows the blueprint of how to design a hit song – repetition, unexpected changes to maximise attention to the track and a damn catchy chorus.
Nice review Jim.
Just when I thought Sugarland couldn’t suck any more…
this is a great song written by a great team of people. Whatever song is next on the Nettles/Bush/Shy Carter/Kevin Griffin train is bound to be a fun chug-a-lug-ing choo-choo good time!! Best song of the year!!
I’m not the least bit ashamed to say how much I love this song. It displays way more creativity and personality than half of the other up-tempo songs on tbe radio. Like Jim said, just get up and dance!
what you think that song was good it aint even country its more pop and rap then anything you say you hate pop country but then you say you like this pice of crap is good t just dosent make sense
Just because it’s not country doesn’t mean it’s crap, and pop country is not inherently evil. It’s the goofy performance and the genre-busting creativity that make this single great, especially the reggae breakdown.
I am a huge fan/listener of Pandora radio. Sugarland’s ad runs about every 8-10 songs, and just the one-liner “you ann me-uh babe-uh we’re stuck-uh lahke glue”…all run together like someone has glue in her mouth…makes me wanna stick a fork-uh in my-uh eyeballs-uh.
UGH is right! Love their more serious stuff though.