By FISH GRIWKOWSKY -- Edmonton Sun
FLY
Dixie Chicks
(Epic-Sony)
I don't know where to start. First, hats off to a self-proclaimed chick band for having enough push to not have half-naked pictures of themselves on the cover.
That's gutsy and gives them even more credibility than they already had.
But more importantly, hats off to the Dixie Chicks for recording Goodbye Earl, one hell of a murder ballad sung, oddly enough, with the same kind of emotional grease Steve Earle would. The connection is probably unintentional, of course. And though they back down a little in the liner notes (we shouldn't kill, after all), hearing Natalie Maines sing, "It didn't take 'em long to decide that Earl had to die!" is thrilling.
Brings you back to the days when Alice Cooper ruled the airwaves and everyone making decisions wasn't a big fat chicken.
Other than that, there are a few hilarious, racy, half-naked pictures of them and the tracks tend to take a while to get going.
Whatever mainstream country is these days, the Dixie Chicks are the best part - especially live.
This is a sweet follow-up and the gems make up for the occasional musical wallpaper. Support women. Sorry ... support "chicks."