The Chicks Review

(Photo: Robin Harper)

It would’ve been a shame if the long-awaited return of the Dixie Chicks came in the form of an uninspired album of covers that existed only to fulfill a contractual obligation with their record label. Which, according to the group, that was their original plan. However, things changed when inspiration struck lead singer Natalie Maines in one of the most painful of ways; she and her husband of 17 years went through a virulent divorce that wasn’t finalized until last year. And never one to shy away from speaking her mind, Maines, joined by bandmates Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire—now simply “the Chicks”—used the experience as fuel for their first studio album in 14 years, titled “Gaslighter.”

This review was written for Roots Magazine. For the full story, click here.