The Dixie Chicks are back with a new album after a fairly long quiet spell following a great deal of controversy. You might recall them having become the pariahs of the country music world when lead singer Natalie Maines publicly criticized then-president George W. Bush. The buzz on the Internets today is whether the old controversies have anything to do with the latest release being a duo effort by sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, with Maines nowhere to be found.

Wendy Geller says, in her piece for the Yahoo! music blogs:

Could the sisters be having a family collab just for the pure enjoyment of it? Or, is there a deeper meaning to the omission of their longtime pal and singer?

I, for one, am wondering if it’s a bit of both. If, maybe, the two are preferring a lower-key re-emergence into the spotlight…

There will be no escaping the endless questioning about you-know-what-and-whatnot, but perhaps leaving out Maines–who has, undoubtedly, painted herself into the catalyst corner of this entire saga–is the easiest way to get back to the basics.

Then again–it could very well be Maines herself who wishes to remain out of the spotlight for a little bit longer. As the center of the storm, she’s weathered the most criticism.

What do you think? Here’s the most controversial track from their last album, “Not Ready to Make Nice,” to refresh your memory…