There’s nothing better than heading into a weekend celebrating and enjoying new music. Today there are quit a few releases to celebrate. Amos Lee’s latest is phenomenal (no surprise) as well as Justin Townes Earle’s posthumous b-sides collection (also amazing). But today’s focus is country do Sugarland and their four song EP There Goes the Neighborhood.

The EP marks the band’s first release since 2018’s Bigger and the first since the band reformed last year after a half-decade long hiatus. There Goes the Neighborhood marks the first time in the band’s career that they wrote none of the songs on the album, instead looking to folks like Maren Morris, Ryan Hard, Thomas Rhett, Josh Kerr and Emily Weisband to pen the songs. The result is both winning and welcome but also somewhat of a departure from the band’s ubiquitous singles.

The title track and EP opener is a deforestation anthem penned by Connie Harrington, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd (presumably before their divorce) and opens swapy and bluesy before welcoming Jennifer Nettles’ inimitable vocals. Anchored by the line “It’s a shame what we tear down in the name of progress” it is a hip-shaking good time and veritable proof that the time off has served the band well. They sound refreshed, renewed and as flawless as ever.

“Temporary Feeling” follows and the Hannah Ellis, Josh Kerr, Emily Weisband co-write is decidedly the most commercial song the bad has ever released. After a brief bluesy intro and some seductive vocals from Nettles the sultry vibe yields to a veneer that is distinctly R+B (think Usher or Jason Derulo) and carries pop trappings that sound more akin to Top 40 radio than say CMA Fest. Aided by vocals from gravel-throated guitarist/vocalist Kristian Bush the song is damn good and utterly addictive.

The placid piano ballad “Georgia is Yours” follows and of all the songs on the EP it feels the most familiar. Co-written by Josh Kerr, Sam Ellis, Emily Weisband, Thomas Rhett and Rhett’s father Rhett Akins “Georgia is Yours” is a timeless breakup song rich with emotion, harmony and Nettles’ world-class vocals. The EP concludes with “Get Your Hopes Up” a radio pop effort that sounds more akin to Sara Bareilles or Rachel Platten than say “Stuck Like Glue.” Written by Johan Fransson, Mark Trussell and Emily Weisband “Get Your Hopes Up” is optimistic, full-hearted and sweetly affecting. In the end the only disappointing aspect to There Goes the Neighborhood is the brevity At four songs and less than 15 minutes of running time the EP leaves the listener wanting more. After a five year hiatus one has to think the band has more music up their sleeve and hopefully more songs they’ve written themselves. The verdict is still out on that.

In the meantime Sugarland will keep busy. On Monday of next week Sugarland will introduce the new music to the world with an appearance on NBC Today’s Summer Concert Series alongside their dear friends and past and future tourmates Little Big Town. Both bands will embark on the Take Me Home tour beginning Oct. 24 in Greenville, SC. The tour is named after the Phil Collins song that both bands recorded for a duet single released earlier this year.

Now in their 22nd year of making music, Sugarland has sold more than 10 million albums and have had three albums certified Platinum or better. They’ve amassed seven #1 singles and more than 600 million streams. And then there’s their award success. To date they are the recipients of five straight CMA Awards for Vocal Duo of the Year, winner of five ACM Awards and two GRAMMY Awards. There Goes the Neighborhood probably won’t help them win any more hardware but another full-length effort just might do the trick. Here’s hoping just that happens.