Sugarland: The country band to beat

Come get some sugar, roll the stones and focus your bright eyes with this week's new music CD and DVD releases.

BUZZ BAND: With a couple of platinum (million-plus selling) albums already out, the media's giving a lot of love to the new, third album by Sugarland, "Love on the Inside" (Mercury Nashville, B+). Fronted by Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, they're kind of a co-ed Dixie Chicks minus the political underpinnings.

That's to say, this is a country band that leans more on the "alt" side of the scene that's also informed by rock 'n' roll and reaching out to people who don't necessarily adore mainstream country music, as well as those who do.

Nettles' heavily Georgia-accented twang is the most old-school aspect of their sound. But then you get sonic snapshots like "Joey," which evokes "Maggie May"-era Rod Stewart, or the Fleetwood Mac-ish rocker "Take Me as I Am." There's a bonus performance of "Life in a Northern Town" not far removed from the original version by the Dream Academy.

PURE POP: Already huge in her native Australia, Delta Goodrem is a very photogenic blonde - perfect cover-girl material. And, as heard on her album "Delta" (Mercury/Decca, B), her sweet, reedy soprano ain't shabby either. It's capable of trilling in high-falutin' fashion like Celine Dion or all gnarly and girlish like Alanis Morissette.

Musically, Delta is mostly bowling down the mainstream pop alley in such grand and glossy, big-production statements like "Believe Again." So is America ready to embrace a new-millennium Olivia Newton-John? Why not!

ANGLO-AMERICANS: Also getting LOTS of buzz are the Black Kids, serving up "Partie Traumatic" (Columbia, B). Ironically, this is the palest-sounding American band I've heard in ages - a bunch of glam-rock emulators out of Florida who make even the Killers seem like macho men. Their sonic inspirations are the posh, angst-riddled U.K. dance pop bands of the '80s like the Smiths, Psychedelic Furs (best remembered for their scoring on the newly re-released "Pretty in Pink") and Suede.

And what do you know, ex-Suede Bernard Butler produced the Kids' coming-out party, whose most notable achievement is "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You," wherein oh-so-gay-sounding front guy Reggie Youngblood acts more the jealous girlfriend than romantic rival.

Likewise British-influenced - and more deserving to last a lunchtime - is Low VS Diamond, serving up soaring, mostly optimistic life anthems on their self-titled debut album (Epic, B+). Two members - guitarist Anthony Polcino and bassist Jon Pancoast - hail from Atlantic City.

CLEARING HIS EYES: Are you a fan of Bright Eyes, alter-ego for Conor Oberst? The cult star has a self-titled album (Merge, B+) coming next week, recorded in mystical Tepoztlan, Mexico, with a hot little band, though this one's billed as his "first solo project in a dozen years." And you can stream the whole album for free until its Aug. 4 release, at www.consoroberst.

com or www.mergerecords.com.

More uptempo and guitar strummy this time, there's less "hurt" in his voice though just as much elliptical verse to analyze. Conor will even get you nodding along with the dire forecast, "I Don't Want to Die (In the Hospital)."

SHARPENING YOUR FOCUS: For a real jolt of reality and lots of musical pleasure, check out the Rolling Stones' entertaining new concert film "Shine a Light" (Paramount Home Video, A-), beautifully illuminated (in black-and-white and color segments and especially in the high-def Blu-ray version) under the direction of Martin Scorsese.

The crevices in Mick and Keith's faces look so deep you could jump into them. Four bonus performances, not seen in the theatrical version, have been added for the DVD/BR releases.

MORE STUFF I'M DIGGING: Jam bands often suffer a shortage of good material. Not so with Tea Leaf Green on "Raise Up the Tent" (Surfdog, B+), wherein their plaintively sung songs (occasionally nodding to ancient airs) pull you into the show rather than seeming just the tentpole on which to hang the improvs.

Erin Bode's lightly voiced, jazz-flavored pop is in full bloom on "The Little Garden" (Native Language, B+), fertilized with smart, sophisticated band arrangements. Her spiritual role model is Joni Mitchell, but this charmer never comes off as an imitator.

Also influenced by others but inspiring on his own is English folky Neil Halstead (formerly of Mojave 3) on "Oh! Mighty Engine" (BrushFire, B+). He's one of the best talents now referencing the psychedelic folk boom that produced tart, edgy talents such as Bert Jansch, the Incredible String Band, Ralph McTell and Nick Drake.

BLUES 'N RAGTIME: Nobody's carrying on the hoopin' and hollerin', Piedmont acoustic blues traditions better than Cephas & Wiggins, wailing, picking and blowing a mean harp on "Richmond Blues" (Smithsonian Folkways, A-). Bless their hearts for keeping tunes like "John Henry," "Going Down the Road," "Prison Bound Blues" and "Key to the Highway" alive in original, rustic forms. But make no mistake - these guys are masters of their craft.

Tired of all the world's conflicts? Get on the peace train with blues and gospel veteran Maria Muldaur and celebrate war no more on "Yes We Can!" (Telarc, B+). The material ranges from Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" to Dylan's "Masters of War" to the traditional campfire rouser "Down by the Riverside." Helping out - the Women's Voices for Peace Choir and special guests such as Joan Baez, Odetta, Phoebe Snow and Bonnie Raitt.

Stax Records is back in business, and today two label stalwarts have new discs out. Guitarist extraordinaire Steve Cropper gets funky with blue-eyed soul singer Felix Cavaliere (of Rascals fame) on "Nudge It Up a Notch" (Stax, B), achieving special epiphanies in their reggae/doo-wop originals "If It Wasn't for Loving You" and "Imperfect World."

Eddie Floyd, of "Knock on Wood" fame, picks up pretty much where he left off on "Eddie Loves You Still" (Stax, B-). *