Personnel: Jay Joyce, Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar); Kenny Greenberg, Tom Bukovac, Byron Gallimore (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Dan Dugmore (banjo, percussion); Darrell Scott, Aubrey Haynie, Stuart Duncan (mandolin); Roberto Cani, Endr‚ Granat, Sara Parkins, Robert Peterson, Armen Garabedian, Darius Campo, Josefina Vergara, Michele Richards, Susan Chatman, Berj Garabedian, Bruce Dukov, Charlie Bisharat (violin); Roland Kato, Evan Wilson, Bob Becker (viola); Paula Hochhalter, John Catchings, Suzie Katayama, Larry Corbett, Dan Smith , Steve Richard, Carl Gorodetzky, Steve Erdody (cello); Tim Lauer (accordion); Gordon Mote (piano); Jimmy Nichols, Charles Judge (keyboards); Eric Darken, Glenn Worf, Paul Bushnell (bass guitar); Chris McHugh, Matt Chamberlain, Shannon Forest, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Javier Solis (percussion); Crystal Tallefero, Gene Miller, Greg Barnhill, Kelly Willis, Lisa Cochran, Rhonda Vincent, Tim McGraw, Wes Hightower, Bekka Bramlett, Perry Coleman (background vocals).

Recording information: Starstruck, Nashville, Tennessee; The Sound Kitchen, Nashville, Tennessee; Emerald Entertainment, Nashville, Tennessee; The Castle, Nashville, Tennessee; Jane's Place, Nashville, Tennessee; Blackbird Studios, Nashville, Tennessee (2004 - 2005).

Coming after the relative commercial disappointment of 2002's pop-oriented CRY--and, not at all coincidentally, Gretchen Wilson's rise as the new Everygirl of country--Faith Hill's FIREFLIES is a blatant attempt to ditch the singer's glamourpuss image and reassert her country roots, such things having become fashionable again. This isn't a problem, however: Shania Twain-like chart pop wasn't Hill's forte, and FIREFLIES brings her back where she belongs.

The first single, "Mississippi Girl," is Hill's best song in years. A Dixie Chicks-like piece of sweet country-pop with a few bluegrass trimmings, the tune was written by country hitmaker John Rich. Rich also penned some of the other standouts here, like the laid-back "Sunshine and Summertime" and "Like We Never Loved At All," a dramatic, '70s-style duet between Hill and her husband Tim McGraw. Three other songs are from the catalogue of alt-country singer/songwriter Lori McKenna, taking Hill into a folkish vein similar to Mary-Chapin Carpenter. The overall lack of bombast suits Hill's girl-next-door delivery perfectly, making FIREFLIES a much-needed artistic comeback after a dubious detour.