Flashback CD Review #98 - Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way

[TageRyche]

This review was written for the Rock Is Life.com website in 2006.

Dixie Chicks
Taking The Long Way
Columbia Records - 2006
http://www.dixiechicks.com

What's The 4-1-1?

The now highly controversial trio returns with their fourth studio album, the first since the now infamous incident with Natalie Maines and her comments towards the current president of the United States. The album features a decidedly more mainstream approach to their music, including co-writing each of the 14 tracks on the disc.

Genre

Country / Pop/ Pop Rock

The Good

The music sounds pretty much like what you would expect both from a Dixie Chicks album and a mainstream pop-rock outfit. The album starts out pretty decently with the first track "The Long Way Around" having a nice up tempo beat to the song. In the chorus the song sounds like something you might hear Tom Petty singing.

There are only 2 or 3 songs that sound blatantly country on this album. "Bitter End" comes out real well in that department.

The controversial first single is a fiery response to the endless volume of crap hurled the group's way since "The Incident", with Natalie Maines and her comments about George W. Bush. I know country radio won't play the song, but "Not Ready To Make Nice" is an excellent song.

One thing I've always enjoyed about the Dixie Chicks is how they take serious subjects and make really good songs about them without coming across as preachy or ponderous. Infertility and Alzheimer's Disease are featured this time around. The "Silent House" track about Alzheimer's is particularly moving.

Natalie Maines has a great voice and it can go from a controlled kind of screeching at times to a down right beautifully measured soft vocal tone on the group's ballads. You can check out the song "Easy Silence" for an example of that last statement. The group also manages to come up with some of the best sounding vocal harmonies throughout the disc.

They really only rock out on one track, "Lubbock or Leave It". The rest of the material on Taking The Long Way is firmly entrenched in either a mid-tempo groove or it is a ballad. This isn't necessarily a criticism, but on past albums they have featured a couple more lively tunes rather than just a single one.

The closing song "I Hope" is a nice bluesy number that ends the CD on a high note. It has a great vocal delivery. My favorite track on the CD is the ballad "Lullaby". It is a simple and simply marvelous ballad. It has all the required elements to be one of those really saccharine songs, but I was really surprised that it turned out so beautifully done.

The Bad

Sheryl Crow helped write the song "Favorite Year" and she would've been better off taking the song for herself. It sounds so much like a song she'd have on one of her albums, it is almost confusing as to whose album the track appears on. On top of which the song is rather flat and uninteresting. The same can be said for "I Like It" and "Baby Hold On".

The album is pretty frontloaded. The first 8 songs are all pretty darn good. The last 6 songs find only 2 real standout tracks. It almost feels as if they ran out of gas. You could've cut the three songs I mentioned as not being all that fond of from the album and it would've made for a much tighter release.

The Verdict

Critics who hate the Dixie Chicks will lambaste the album. Those who love the Dixie Chicks will overpraise the album. Those of us with a little bit of intelligence will focuse solely on the music. There is a lot her to enjoy but there are some decidedly dead spots as well.

Producer Rick Rubin has certainly given the group a push towards a more mainstream sound and backed them up with an all-star cast of rock musicians for the album's music and songwriting. I like the disc, but it is not as good as I think it could've been. That being said, I can't wait to see what's coming in the future for the Dixie Chicks.

Did You Know?

Singer Natalie Maines is a big fan of singer Maria McKee. The song "Lullaby" was featured throughout the second season finale of the drama show "Medium".

Among the artists making musical or writing contributions to the album: Bonnie Raitt, Keb' Mo', Pete Yorn, John Mayer, Linda Perry, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and the aforementioned Sheryl Crow.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5

[Scott]

Nice read Tage!  No questioning the talent these three have.  I hope they continue on having learned hard lessons I am sure they have some nice stuff ready to record soon.

[TageRyche]

To be honest, I think they are done. They haven't done much of anything together lately.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I've heard a few songs by this band, even have a CD by them.  They do put forth some nice vocal harmonies.  Maines has just as much right to voice her opinion about then President Bush as anyone has now regarding President Obama.  But I don't listen to her or any other celebrity and their opinions on politics.  Anyway, nice read Jay.

[Jon]

Interesting. Yet I have never heard anything from DC nor will I ever. And who isn't a fan of Maria McKee? If you're not, then you're just plain weird.

[TageRyche]

Jon,

I feel the same way about Maria McKee...she is pure awesome.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Never heard of her.

[Scott]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_McKee

[RJhog (Admin)]

I read the Wikipedia article, very interesting.  I see some familiar names like Robin Zander, Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty's backing band The Heartbreakers) and Lone Justice.  I remember from doing the Petty series that Petty gave Lone Justice a song called Ways To Be Wicked, and I assume she is the lady that sang on that tune.

[TageRyche]

Yes she is.

[TageRyche]

You are missing out on greatness.