The Chase
In hindsight, this is where mega-stardom began to get the better of Brooks's artistic instincts. Although tame by radical rock and rap standards, "We Shall Be Free" was controversial enough to alienate country radio with its pro-humanitarian, anti-racist, anti-homophobic message. Too bad the music itself was so whitebread. Covers of Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" and Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken" intriguingly encapsulated Brooks's blend of classic country and '70s rock influences. But none of the album's originals equaled the easy-going appeal of Brooks's earlier work, while Allen Reynolds's even-handed studio production took on an overly-familiar quality.--Rick Mitchell