Dig These Discs :: Sugarland, Mad About The Boy, Lylit, Chrisette Michele, Abba

ABBA is forever. Despite not having released new music in almost 30 years, somehow they are able to stay fresh. It's never been more evident than now with "Mamma Mia" still going strong in theatres across the country, a new version of their greatest hits being released with music videos, and one of their songs being included on the latest offering from the Mad About the Boy series. Hoping to have the longevity that ABBA has had is a trio of artists with new albums coming out. Sugarland has done well in the country realm over the last couple years, but haven't been able to find that special crossover appeal. Chrisette Michele's third album finds her struggling and getting lost in the pack of other powerful voices in the arena while newcomer Lylit tries to establish herself as a soul artist. Only time will tell how each will be remembered.

Sugarland - The Incredible Machine

Sugarland has been on a speeding bullet towards fame since their debut single "Baby Girl" announced them to the world. In just six short years, the country group has released four albums, with their latest effort being "The Incredible Machine." The group has gotten some mainstream recognition, but has yet to crossover as acts like Lady Antebellum and Carrie Underwood have done. "The Incredible Machine" provides a collection of songs that will certainly keep them as one of the top country acts but is likely to keep them unknown to virtually everyone outside the genre. "The Incredible Machine" has a distinct "rock" feel that might make Sugarland feel out of place in Nashville as well. Jennifer Nettles belts out the songs on "The Incredible Machine" like nobody's business. Sometimes though, she goes too far, and things are left inaudible. In the opening track "All We Are," Nettles wails the lyrics so that it's difficult to understand many of them. She settles into a nice groove for the rest of the album, with only momentary recurrences. The duo offers up a nice change of pace on "The Incredible Machine (Interlude)" when Sugarland's other half - Kristian Bush - takes the lead. Like a piece of gum, the songs on this latest album are tasty upon initial listens but unfortunately the flavor doesn't last. What you are left chewing on in the end, is just bland. Even the highlight, "Tonight," leaves you unfulfilled.

Abba - Gold-Greatest Hits

If you saw the musical "Mamma Mia," than you know all of ABBA's greatest hits. The Swedish group that ruled the charts for a decade beginning in the early 1970s has released a special edition of "ABBA Gold." This new edition has a 90-minute DVD that includes music videos for all of the songs. For some added entertainment, the bonus materials include a trippy, cartoon version of "Money Money Money" and split screen versions of some of the videos that make the picture clearer. No one would have known the difference had it not been for the split screen, which is at first a fun novelty that wears off quickly. Ironically, they don't clean up the cartoons, just the live videos. The CD has all of the hits that the group has been known for the last 40 years. With 19 of their biggest hits, your favorite is sure to be included. From "Dancing Queen" to "Mamma Mia" and "Waterloo," there isn't a misfire in the bunch. But if you already have the audio, there's no reason to buy this special edition unless you are a diehard ABBA fan and need to the videos to complete your collection.

Chrisette Michele - Let Freedom Reign

For her third album, "Let Freedom Reign," Chrisette Michele has approached her material quite differently than she has in previous works. Instead of filling up the album with vocal-showcasing ballads, Michele takes a different route and includes more mid-tempo tracks, which gives the album an upbeat, more energetic feel. Thankfully, she hasn't completely abandoned her trademark ballads - "Goodbye Game" is one of the album's more solid tracks. Michele takes on serious themes in this album from self empowerment to self worth, and while it is surely a valiant effort, "Let Freedom Reign" sounds more like a less polished and less pop-version of any Beyonce album that came before it. One interesting addition to the album is the inclusion of interludes to showcase the singer, but unfortunately, Michele seems trapped sounding like the majority of every other singer out there. Once she sets herself apart from the pack, then she'll truly be able to reign.

Lylit - Unexpected

Lylit's debut album isn't due out until March, but a seven song EP has been released to to whet your taste buds. There is no question - Lylit is reminiscent of Joss Stone in both style and vocal ability. The difference between the two, however, is that Lylit's music is definitely more mainstream than the sounds of fringe-sounding Stone. Songs like album opener "The Plan" are feisty, fun, and playful, but it's not really anything new considering the crop of take charge singers already on the scene. At times the songs feel rough around the edges in both value and writing. In the end, "Unexpected" is expected to pique listeners' interest, however there isn't much worth getting excited about here. Lylit has talent and a good voice, but it's not enough to carry a full length album.

Mad About The Boy 19

The latest edition of the Mad About the Boy compilation series is out now. Volume 19 is filled with plenty of tracks that will get the dance floor filled. Tracey Shield does a version of "I Drove All Night" that could rival the remake done by Celine Dion a few years ago. The twinkling background music doesn't quite do the song justice, or let the vocals get their proper spotlight, however. The two-disc collection does have some mishaps though. Ross Alexander's "Guilty (We're all Guilty of Love)" is one big mess. From the off-putting vocals to background music that doesn't quite fit, the song is a low point of this album for sure. While many of the songs are standard efforts for this series, songs like Sheild's "I Drove All Night" and ABBA Noire's version of "The Winner Takes It All" are solid inclusions that keep the Mad About the Boy series from getting old. There are always a few tracks on each new release that keep you coming back for more.