Taking the Long Way

They call it 'œthe Incident''”the day in March 2003 when Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines denounced President Bush in front of a London crowd. Afterward, country radio banned the Chicks' songs, Maines received death threats, and fans took to the streets to destroy their CDs. 'œPerhaps she should tick people off more often,' said David Browne in Entertainment Weekly. This defiant record '” the Chicks' first since the incident '” really works to their sassy strengths. Though it's got some political bite, evidenced by the album's first single, 'œNot Ready to Make Nice,' the gals are smart to keep most of these 14 songs centered on personal stories. Unfortunately, that means they write the songs themselves, said Sasha Frere-Jones in The New Yorker. Sappy, vague lyrics about Emily Robison's and Martie Maguire's fertility troubles can't stand up to the 'œconcrete details and taut one-liners' of their 2000 Dennis Linde'“penned hit 'œGoodbye Earl.' It looks as if their industry friends have come out of the woodwork, said Bret McCabe in The New York Sun. Producer Rick Rubin has assembled a large, talented group of collaborators that includes Sheryl Crow, Neil Finn, and Gary Louris. It's clear that support from such peers has given the Chicks courage to branch out from mainstream country. There are several rock songs here, and an excellent pop ballad, 'œBitter End,' whose 'œrafter-rousing chorus' shows 'œthe band at its most symphonic.'