That Girl

For her first solo album apart from Sugarland (the pop-country duo she’s ridden to superstardom), Jennifer Nettles recruits Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Slayer, Neil Diamond) to help surprise her fans. With his encyclopedic knowledge of popular music, Rubin helps capture the soul side of Nettles. The self-penned “Falling” comes closest to prime Sugarland country, but from the restrained “Me Without You” onward, it’s apparent that Rubin did his job. “Moneyball” counts off live as an electric piano starts the tune before the full band kicks in to swing Southern R&B. Strings and horns accentuate where necessary, while Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and former Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan (among the heralded crew) play to the precise needs of each song. Cowritten with Butch Walker (Pink, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer), the title track hits a convincing and catchy retro groove. “This Angel” is the requisite gorgeous ballad. Bob Seger’s “Like a Rock” starts as a gentle acoustic tune and ends as a ‘60s Stax Records soul workout. The deluxe edition adds two bonus songs: “His Hands” and “Every Little Thing.”