Taking The Long Way

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Nothing changes folks like babies and war, and since the release of their last album, 2002's Home, the Dixie Chicks have been forever altered by both. If that album showcased the trio as precocious young adults, Taking the Long Way finds them sobered and matured, and in a grown-up state of mind. Produced by the celebrated Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers), who saw the Chicks as "a great rock act making a country album, not a country act making a rock album," their new record impresses both as beautiful sonic tapestry (peppered with myriad Beatlesque hallmarks) and forthright yet vulnerable portrait of three women shaken by the personal and political events of the past few years. As they make clear in the defiant "Not Ready to Make Nice," they still smart over the backlash from their 2003 Bushwhacking. But as they assert on the equally autobiographical "The Long Way Around," they could never "kiss all the asses that they told me to" and just follow others aimlessly--and silently--through life. This means that the Chicks are simultaneously prideful and scornful of celebrity ("Everybody Knows"), and that as new mothers they increasingly treasure the refuge they find in life with their families, out of the spotlight ("Easy Silence," "Lullaby," "Baby Hold On"). The push and pull of both passions drive this record, which also touches on the personal issues of infertility (with which sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison both dealt) and Alzheimer's (from which Natalie Maines's grandmother suffers). The trio crafted all 14 cuts with the help of such writers as Sheryl Crow, Gary Louris, Mike Campbell, and Keb' Mo', laying out their lives as honestly and intimately as they might in their diaries. For that reason, on first listen, Taking the Long Way seems too somber--in need of a bit of levity and more than a couple of uptempo songs (like the sexy, '60s-flavored "I Like It") to resonate for the long haul. It also seems to lack the writing quality that Darrell Scott, Patty Griffin, and Bruce Robison brought to Home. But on repeated plays, those concerns dissipate. By the last cut, the R&B/gospel offering "I Hope," the Chicks have chronicled their journey with as much spirituality as spunk, their pain deeply ingrained in their protests. --Alanna Nash

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-11-05 rating:
Absolutely Amazing!! Stunning album!
This album is amazing! Fantastic song writing. The first 3 tracks especially are brilliant and amazingly well written songs. I love it!

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review by: date: 2008-06-24 rating:
wow! i love it!
I bought this album for two reasons. First and foremost, the music is so beautiful, original and real compared to most of the other stuff about at the moment. The second reason is my support of free speech, especially when what is said is correct! The way the chicks (particularly natalie) were treated was horrendous and genuinely unbelievable but it has only made them stronger and theyve come back better than ever. From a first glance at the album cover you know what youre about to listen to is going to be interesting. The girls have matured so much, and if you contrast the covers of this and 'Home' of 5 years back you would struggle to believe it is the same chicks! Then again, alot has happened in their lives between the making of these two albums. The lyrics reflect this, with more or less every song reflecting the theme of change, and the persecution they recieved for it. Included is lead single 'i'm not ready to make nice', their way of saying they ain't gonna apologize for speaking their mind, and 'Lubbock or leave it', a swipe at the hypocritical far-right conservatives of 'the bible belt'. There are however softer moments such as lullaby (as the title suggests.)

All in all, the chicks have gone for a more rock & roll orientated sound, while still maintaining their country roots. Their sound is alot more contemporary and accesible to non-country fans. Natalie summed this up herself when speaking to time magazine. She said "I'd rather have a smaller following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith." They may have lost millions of fans for their remarks, but the chicks are not the ones who lose out. It's those so called 'fans'.

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review by: PINSTRIPER date: 2007-11-17 rating:
DUNIT AGAIN
I CAN WAIT TO GET MY COPY OF THIS ALBUM BECAUSE IT LOOK'S LIKE THE'VE DONE IT AGAIN,I DONT THINK THEY CAN MAKE A BAD RECORD.TONY PARSONS

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review by: neorich date: 2007-07-30 rating:
On A Different Level
"It has vibes of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac".

Quite, if I hadn't read the sleeve notes, I'd be convinced that Lindsey Buckingham himself had co-written, or even played on one or two tracks, namely "Lullaby", echoes of his work in "Silver Springs" and "Lubbock Or Leave It".

I bought the album today and have played it non stop, all day!

I already had "Home" and revisited it a few days ago, which prompted me to go out and buy this one.

I love "Home", it's slick, melodic, with some of the most well crafted songs I've ever heard.

I was expecting more of the same on this album and was pleasantly surprised to find that, for me, they've moved up another level.

Apart from Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles, one track sounds very reminiscent of "Journey Of The Sorceror", I felt very much about this album, as I did when I first heard K.D. Lang's "Angel With A Lariat", i.e. that they've taken country far beyond the stuff my dad used to make me listen to in order to think there was something of value in the genre..something I've long since acknowledged!

I agree with some of the comments about the first 7 or so tracks being very instant, I listened to it in the car, after first buying it and found some of the later tracks began to "grate" a little and sounded a little too intense one after the other, particularly in the vocals,that said, it's not going to put me off giving them a few more listens..

Trouble is, people seem to want bands/artists to stick to well trodden formulas and just produce carbon copies of their "popular" work, which is what, I think kills off some bands like ABBA, when they try and branch out, some of the general public and even some their fans, won't forgive them!

One of the standout tracks for me, is, on the first couple of listens, "Lullaby", which is so moving, musically speaking it's about as close to an "original" sound that I've heard in some time and builds layer upon layer of texture, involving deft, little instrumental and vocal touches, such as a descending piano, after the 2nd use of the line "like a serenade", which is so exquisite, a "simple" two chord trick and a much more experimental attempt at a lullaby than, the gorgeous "Godspeed", from the previous album, but like ABBAs "Like An Angel Passing Through My Room", the sort of song that I'd happily play just before lights out!

Another is "Not Ready To Make Nice"..the first time I heard this, as a single, I thought it was about a relationship with a lover, but having really "heard" the lyrics and read about their context, it's even more moving and apart from applauding them for standing up to be counted, rather than doing the whole 1914 routine, I'm staggered, if it's true, that someone would receive death threats as a result of expressing their right to free speech.

I agree with Bush when he says repeatedly, likes it's a mantra, and then smirks and does what he wants regardless, that the "great thing" about living in America/Britain, is that people are supposed to be "free to protest" unlike in Saddam's Iraq, it seems that some of our more jingoistic fellow citizens in both countries, don't get that!

So, it's "anti Bush", I'd say we need to hear from Americans who DON'T believe it's their "God given", right to ride rough shod over the rest of the planet!

Politically, it's brave, considering their roots, musically it's very left of centre also.

I live to be convinced by the later tracks, maybe 14 was too many, too ambitious?

Nevertheless, if they come a touring over here again, I'd certainly move heaven and earth to see them.

Rich.
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review by: pompeyman date: 2007-07-29 rating:
a real grower...
first 6 tracks I loved immediately, particularly Not Ready To Make Nice, but was very unsure about the rest. Now after a few more plays I have changed my mind. There is actually a better track on the second half, called Voice Inside My Head. Other great tracks are Silent House,Baby Hold On, Favorite Year,So Hard. In fact there are just 2 tracks I am not keen on, Lubbock or Leave It ( too rocky ) and I Hope ( too gospel ).So thats 12 great tracks and just 2 I skip.This album just gets better and better the more you hear it.

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