Dixie Chicks - Fly

Wide Open Spaces unveiled the new incarnation of the Dixie Chicks, revealing an eclectic, assured group that was simultaneously rootsy and utterly modern, but if that 1998 de facto debut captured the band just leaving the ground, Fly -- perhaps appropriately, given the title -- finds the group in full flight, in full possession of their talents. This time around, the different sounds they draw upon are more fully integrated, which only makes them more distinctive as a group. Even if the whole of the album feels more of a piece, they still take the time to deliver a slice of pure honky tonk on "Hello Mr. Heartache" and a piece of breakneck bluegrass on the rip-roaring, wickedly clever "Sin Wagon," which is also one of the group originals here, a collaboration between Natalie Maines and Emily Robison and outside writer Stephony Smith. It -- along with the Maines-cowritten "Without You," the Maines/Robison "Don't Waste Your Heart" and Martie Seidel's co-written "Ready to Run" and "Cowboy Take Me Away" -- showcase the trio's increasing craft as writers, which is one of the reasons this album sounds unified. But even the outside-written material feels like the group, whether it's the twangy boogie "Some Days You Gotta Dance," Patty Griffin's "Let Him Fly," the melancholy "Cold Day in July" and, especially "Goodbye Earl" where a wife gets revenge on her abusive husband. Like before, the group moves gracefully between these different styles, with Maines providing a powerful, compelling focus with Robison and Seidel offering sensitive support, and this blend makes Fly a rich, nuanced album that just gets better with repeated listens. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Steinberg Performer, Guitar (Acoustic) Alan Umstead Violin Albert Sanchez Photography Alex Dizon Hair Stylist Bill Johnson Art Direction, Art Direction Billy Joe Walker Performer, Guitar (Acoustic) Billy Joe Walker, Jr. Guitar (Acoustic) Billy Sherrill Engineer Blake Chancey Vocal Harmony, Handclapping, Producer Bob Mason Cello Bryan Sutton Guitar (Acoustic), Performer Carl Gorodetzky Violin Carlos Grier Digital Editing Cate Myer Violin Catherine Umstead Violin Charlie Robison Vocal Harmony, Vocals, Handclapping Chris Dunn Music Preparation Chris Rowe Engineer Chuck Ainlay Mixing Clarke Schleicher Engineer Cliff Audretch A&R Connie Ellisor Violin Daniel Erdman Hair Stylist Dari Marder Photo Consultant David Angell Violin David Davidson Violin Deb Boyle Production Coordination Debra Ferullo Make-Up Dennis Burnside Arranger, String Arrangements, Conductor Dennis Linde Guitar (Acoustic), Performer Denny Purcell Mastering Ed Rode Photography Emily Robison Dobro, Vocals, Vocal Harmony, Banjo, Guitar (Acoustic), Handclapping, Lap Steel Guitar Eric Conn Digital Editing Gary VanOsdale Viola George Marinelli Performer, Guitar (Electric) Gina R. Binkley Design Greg Morrow Drums Janet Askey Violin Jennifer Davis Hair Stylist Jim Grosjean Viola John Catchings Cello John Guess Mixing John Mock Bodhran, Tin Whistle, Concertina Jonathan Russell Assistant Mastering Engineer, Assistant Karen Winkelmann Violin Keith Urban Guitar (Electric), Performer Kjell B. Sandved ? Kris Wilkinson Viola Lee Larrison Violin Lloyd Maines Guitar (Steel) Maital Sabbon Make-Up Marcus Hammon Guitar (Acoustic), Performer Marcus Hummon Guitar (Acoustic) Mark Martin Engineer Martie Seidel Fiddle, Viola, Violin, Vocal Harmony, Vocals Mary Kathryn Vanosdale Violin Matt Rollings Organ (Hammond), Organ, Keyboards Melanie Shelley Hair Stylist Michael Rhodes Guitar (Bass), Bass Michael Silva Hair Stylist Mike Henderson Guitar (Electric) Monisa Angell Viola Moshe Brakha Photography Natalie Maines Handclapping, Vocals, Vocal Harmony Pamela Sixfin Violin Pat Buchanan Guitar (Electric) Patrick Murphy Mixing, Assistant Paul Worley Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic), Producer, Vocal Harmony, Harmony Randy Scruggs Guitar (Acoustic) Renee Fowler Stylist Stacey Martin Make-Up Steve Conn Accordion Steve Nathan Organ (Hammond), Keyboards, Organ Terry McMillan Percussion Tom Roady Percussion Tony Castle Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Digital Editing, Editing Tracy Baskette-Fleaner Art Direction