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List Price: $21.98 | | Label: Sony
Salesrank: 11815
Released: November 14, 2006 |
| Our Price: $5.97 |
| Used Price: $3.24 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Taking the Long Way Track Listing:
1. The Long Way Around
2. Easy Silence
3. Not Ready To Make Nice
4. Everybody Knows
5. Bitter End
6. Lullaby
7. Lubbock Or Leave It
8. Silent House
9. Favorite Year
10. Voice Inside My Head
11. I Like It
12. Baby Hold On
13. So Hard
14. I Hope
Editorial Review:
This enhanced package includes the full CD Taking the Long Way, plus a new bonus DVD. The special DVD features live performances of the Dixie Chicks from AOL Sessions, new interview footage with record producer Rick Rubin, and the hit video for "Not Ready to Make Nice". Check out www.dixiechicks.com for more updates on the Dixie Chicks.
Description of Taking the Long Way:
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
Taking the Long Way Reviews:
One of their best 
2008-07-15 - I found this CD to be the best the Dixie Chicks have ever done. Per the video interview included this included music they wrote themselves. They wanted this album to be special and to show what they can do. It included the song "Not Ready to make nice" which they discussed in the video as being not as easy to write as they wanted to get their feelings across. All things considered this was a great album and one that will the part of my collection. This deserves 5 stars!!!
GREAT music is not bound by genre!
2008-02-28 - "New Country" has never been a genre of music that I could embrace wholeheartedly. My own belief is that "real" country music, on the whole, is long since dead. My feeling is the same regarding "real" Rock 'n Roll. Simply put, there will never be another Country artist as pure or influential as Hank Williams Sr., just as there will never be another Elvis, or Beatles.
In the 90's, when Grunge and Rap infested the mainstream Rock and Pop airwaves, a lot of music listeners looking for "normality" turned to New Country. For the most part I was put-off by the majority of these New Country artists. It seemed that just about every hick from the sticks was being pushed as the next big thing. Heck, just slap a big hat on some fool with an empty head, give him a big belt buckle, and he's a star! I found most New Country to be contrived and silly. However, there were a few truly great artists to be found in that mixed bag....
The Dixie Chicks; Garth Brooks they ain't!
The Dixie Chicks have proven that in this age of empty New Country, real talent will still rise to the top. While they certainly cannot be described as Country in the classic sense, their music is undeniably REAL and in my opinion, truly great!
My music collection consists of a variety of styles and genres, but is primarily centered around Rock. Even so, I found "Taking the Long Way" to be my favorite album of 2006. This truly is a well written, masterfully produced, and perfectly performed collection of songs! It's a rarity to find an album these days that is almost entirely good, but I would venture to say that there isn't a bad song on this entire CD!
Highly recommended!
Great live performances on the DVD!
JM
CD -- Dixie Chicks -- Taking the Long Way
2007-05-19 - CD arrived very quickly and was well packaged. I am not what you would call a country fan , however the music on this particular CD is just what any person needs. The music is upbeat and just has an overall great listening feeling. I truly recommend purchasing this CD as ok, there is only 1 song I do not care for off this entire CD and how many times can we say this about a complete CD these days.
Truly great music.
Loved It!
2007-04-11 - I knew very little of the Dixie Chicks before ordering this CD.
I recall hearing about the destruction of their CD's by angry "Fans", who didn't like the fact that one of them made a comment they didn't agree with. It seems some people don't really believe in freedom of speech for all Americans.
Anyway, I decided to check out the clips available on Amazon after hearing they had won the Grammy.
I liked what I heard and decided to order the CD.
What a wonderful group!
I only wish I had been listening to them for a long time.
They are an amazingly talented group of women artist!
If you haven't heard their music, I encourage you to check it out.
Don't follow the Herd, Follow the Chicks... (2 Disc set)
2007-01-22 - ...The Long Way Around.
Disc 1. (AUDIO)
Welcome back Chicks. We've been waiting for you.
Thanks to you for reminding us what makes America great: Divergent views and the freedom to speak them. What impresses me most about the Chicks is that they have come through a storm; did it together; and still are gracious enough to bless us with their wonderful music. Thanks Chicks.
That said, the opening track "The Long Way Around" is classic up-tempo Chicks, leading listeners to dream of the what-ifs (as if I can honestly pretend that their lyric, "Someday I'm gonna' settle down," still applies to me). The Chicks' statement "No I... I could never follow," says it all.
"Easy Silence," I suspect is a heartfelt thanks to the family, friends, and fans that stood by the Chicks when they discovered that freedom is not free.
"Not Ready to Make Nice," serves as the girl's answer to all those who would have them to be anything less than full, free, participating Americans. And hey, I didn't necessarily agree with Natalie's controversial statements at the time, but I am proud of both her and the Chicks since. It takes guts to speak your mind, take the heat, and above all, stick together when the fun hits the fan. I have always admired the Chicks for being great musicians and having great fun, but now I admire them more for being great friends.
Don't miss out on the soulful "Lullaby," and its "How long do you want to be loved? Is forever enough?"
Then give a listen to "I Hope," yet another thought-provoking tune with the Chicks singing a choral backup.
Disc 2. (VIDEO)
On this special video disk Chick fans are treated to a five pack of studio performances featuring:
1) The Long Way Around
2) Easy Silence
3) Voices Inside My Head
4) Truth #2
5) Wide Open Spaces
Next is the provocatively stark video of "The Long Way Around."
Lastly is an in-depth Chicks' video interview including "Taking the Long Way," album producer Rick Rubin. Rubin is known for his eclectic collaborations with such artists as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run DMC, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash and now the Chicks. Five Grammy nominations for "Taking the Long Way" can't be wrong, can they?
In short: the Dixie Chicks (and Mr. Rubin, thank you very much!) don't know how to fail. They get an A.
