Faith Hill - Fireflies

It's clear from the cover photo on 2005's Fireflies that Faith Hill is beating a retreat from her half-baked, half-successful 2002 pop diva makeover, Cry. Not that the album was bad, or even an outright flop -- it just failed to do what it was intended to do, which was to make Faith Hill a true rival to Shania Twain, where her pop success was as great as her country following. Big and polished Cry may have been, but it just wasn't memorable or hooky enough to be great pop and unlike Shania's very clever everywoman pose, Hill's pop move was too detached, too snooty for her country audience. Since she's no fool, Faith Hill has quickly returned to the country-pop and big ballads that brought her stardom on 1999's Breathe, but that doesn't mean she's not playing it smart and savvy. She's recorded several songs by John Rich -- best known as half of Big & Rich, but also a professional songwriter who is pretty close to being ubiquitous in 2005, in the wake of his duo's success. Here, he proves to be a sharp professional by bringing his craftsmanlike musical skills but not his oversized humor to the table with such songs as the laid-back, breezy "Sunshine and Summertime" and the appealingly slick power ballad "Like We Never Loved at All," delivered with harmonies by Hill's husband, Tim McGraw. Of course, this being a 21st century pop album, he's not the only collaborator or songwriter on board. Longtime Hill producer Byron Gallimore once again produces the great majority of the album, and he's as instrumental in steering Hill back toward the country-pop mainstream as he was in pushing her toward the pop mainstream, helping her deliver a set of strong, professionally crafted songs, highlighted by three selections from acclaimed singer/songwriter Lori McKenna. While it's hard not to wish that Hill had a few more loose, funny numbers like "Dearly Beloved" -- a kissing cousin to the Dixie Chicks' "White Trash Wedding" that's not only the purest dose of fun here, it's also the purest dose of country, too -- this is a good straight-ahead mainstream country album, aiming squarely at the middle of the road and hitting its target perfectly. The songs are solid and square, sounding comfortably familiar on the first listen and growing more memorable with repeated plays, Hill never oversings, and the entire affair is perfectly likable and pleasant -- the kind of thing that will shore up her support after the shaky Cry, even if it breaks no new ground. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Chmielewski Mixing Assistant Adam Ayan Mastering Adam Dye Assistant Engineer Allen Ditto Assistant Engineer Anatoly Rosinsky Violin Andrew McPherson Photography Ann Callis Production Coordination Armen Garabedian Violin Aubrey Haynie Fiddle, Mandolin Bekka Bramlett Vocals (Background) Berj Garabedian Violin Bob Becker Viola Brady Barnett Engineer Brett E. Warren Vocals (Background) Bruce Bouton Guitar (Steel), Dobro Bruce Dukov Violin Bryan Sutton Guitar (Acoustic) Byron Gallimore Organ, Producer, Mixing, Audio Production, Keyboards, Guitar (Electric) Carl Gorodetzky Coordination, Cello Charles Judge Keyboards, Synthesizer Strings, Organ Charlie Bisharat Violin Chris Ashburn Assistant Engineer Chris McHugh Drums Chris Rowe Digital Editing Crystal Taliefero Vocals (Background) Dan Dugmore Banjo, Percussion, Dobro Dan Smith Cello Dan Tobin Smith Cello Danlio Dixon Hair Stylist Dann Huff Producer, Gut String Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Audio Production Darius Campo Violin Darrell Franklin A&R Darrell Scott Guitar (Acoustic), Weissenborn, Mandolin David Bryant Engineer, Assistant Engineer David M. Robinson Assistant Engineer David Thoener Mixing Deborah Waknin Stylist Denyse Buffum Viola Derek Bason Engineer Drew Bollman Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Endre Granat Violin Eric Darken Percussion, Guitar (Bass) Erik Lutkins Digital Editing, Engineer, Mixing Assistant Evan Wilson Viola Faith Hill Producer, Audio Production Francesca Tolot Make-Up Gene Miller Vocals (Background), Vocal Treatments Glenn Worf Bass, Guitar (Bass) Gordon Mote Piano Greg Barnhill Vocals (Background) Greg Droman Mixing Greg Lawrence Assistant Engineer Hank Williams Mastering J.C. Monterrosa Assistant Engineer James Calloway Engineer Jason Gantt Engineer Javier Solís Percussion Jay Joyce Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic) Jeremy David Cottrell Assistant Engineer Jesse Chrisman Mixing Assistant, Engineer Jim Cooley Mixing Assistant Jimmy Nichols Piano, Organ, Accordion, Keyboards John Catchings Cello John Paterno Engineer John Robbins Assistant Engineer John Wittenberg Violin Josephina Vergara Violin Julian King Engineer Julian Peploe Package Design Justin Niebank Engineer, Mixing Kelly Willis Vocals (Background) Kenny Greenberg Electronic Mandolin, Guitar (Electric) Larry Corbett Cello Liana Manis Vocals (Background) Lisa Cochran Vocals (Background) Lowell Reynolds Assistant Engineer Mario Diaz de Leon Violin Mark Hagen Engineer Matt Chamberlain Drums Michael Markman Violin Michele Richards Violin Mike "Frog" Griffith Production Coordination Mike Henderson Guitar (Electric) Paul Buckmaster String Arrangements, Conductor Paul Bushnell Guitar (Bass), Bass Paul Franklin Guitar (Steel) Paula Hochhalter Cello Perry Coleman Vocals (Background) Rhonda Vincent Vocals (Background) Robert Matsuda Violin Robert Peterson Violin Roberto Cani Violin Roland Kato Viola Sara Lesher Mixing Assistant, Engineer Sara Parkins Violin Scott Kidd Assistant Engineer Shannon Forest Drums Shannon Forrest Percussion, Drums Stephen Erdody Cello Steve Beers Assistant Engineer Steve Churchyard Engineer Steve Cohn Accordion Steve Erdody Cello Steve Marcantonio Engineer Steve Richards Cello Stuart Duncan Mandolin Susan Chatman Violin Suzie Katayama Orchestral Coordinator, Cello Tim Lauer Accordion Tim McGraw Vocals (Background) Todd Gunnerson Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer Tom Bukovac Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic) Tom Syrowski Assistant Engineer Vance Powell Assistant Engineer Vinnie Colaiuta Drums Wes Hightower Vocals (Background)