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List Price: $15.93 | | Label: Sony
Salesrank: 81257
Released: November 14, 2006 |
| Our Price: $5.80 |
| Used Price: $3.22 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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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:
Disappointed 
2009-05-22 - This album was disappointing, not because of the material or performances, but because of the heavy hand of producer Rick Rubin, who decided the Dixie Chicks are really a pop act. Consequently, instead of the delicate acoustic subtleties of previous albums what you get is in-your-face, overcompressed and overly-bright with an annoyingly up-front snare that bangs without variation as if it were a sequenced sample.
Compare this with the classic "Wide Open Spaces", which is beautifully recorded and mastered and worthy of use as a reference for recording engineers. The contrast with "Long Way" is depressing.
Excellent 
2009-03-08 - Brilliant album by three of the best singers I've ever heard. I bought this after hearing the Dixie Chicks on a HD TV Storytellers concert. Not being a big country music fan I was surprised to hear how many songs didn't sound all that country.
"Lubbock or Leave It" just flat-out rocks.
"Taking the Long Way" is a catchy well written song with trademark harmonies.
The song that made me buy the CD however, was "Silent House". Co-written with Neil Finn of Crowded House fame. It is a haunting song about Alzheimers. Chillingly beautiful and emotional.
Great album by a great group that deserve better than what they got for speaking their mind a few years ago.
5 Grammys Don't Lie
2008-12-10 - Fistly, I have to say, If you're thinking of buying this album, do absolutley, but you MUST see the film "Shut Up And Sing" first. Otherwise you won't be able to appreciate this album fully.
I don't think the Dixie Chicks get as much recognition as they deserve from the Mainstream music world. They're all amazing musicians and with this album they're proved what great lyricists they are.
1. Taking The Long Way - Great, up-beat, feel-good opener. Natalie explaines here how she always does things the hard way, but always gets them done. From this first track it's apparent how much the "ordeal" affected them and what they have taken from it.. "I fought with a stranger and I met myself, I opened my mouth and I heard myself." 9/10
2. Easy Silence - Slow, down-tempo like the title may suggest this is a beautiful bittersweet reminder of the pain endured, and the support networks that were so critical. By now it should become apparent how well this album was engineered, so cleanly cut, everything fits just perfectly. 10/10
3. Not Ready To Make Nice - The most prominent song on here, it's the song people were waiting, hoping and praying for, and they crafted it perfectly. These lyrics will really tug at your heart-strings if you've seen Shut Up And Sing....."It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger and how in the world can the words that I said, send somebody over the edge, that they'd write me a letter saying that I better shut up and sing or my life will be over." Those are powerful lyrics, made even more powerful when you know the story behind it, Natalie's delivery of them and Marties esquisite violin. 10/10
4. Everybody Knows - Nothing could follow Not Ready To Make Nice up, so I don't think they even try here. Changing the flow, with a slower, more relaxed light hearted self-critism by Natalie Maines. The quality doesn't drop though it's still solid. 8/10
5. Bitter End - Continuing in the same style of vein, this is another easy on the ears but by no means static, once again Maine's vocals and the quality of the musicians makes a potentially "dull" track stand out. 8/10
6. Lullaby - As you'd expect, it's very slow, lullabye like and soothing. Natalie shows good vocal restraint here and as always Martie and Emily shine on their instruments. 8/10
7. Lubbock Or Leave It - Here we see Natalie's brash fiery side. "I hear they hate me now, just like they hated you". Probably the most "Rock" song on the album, it sounds so natural. 9/10
8. Silent House - Here you get to see another thing the Dixie Chicks do so well...Harmonise. This is shown well in the bridge and chorus. The song is written about dealing with a relative with Alzheimers, it will no doubt hit home with anyone going through something similar. 9/10
9. Favorite Year - Sounds more clasically country than a few of the others, it wouldn't sound out of place on an earlier album. It doesn't make much of an impact, but it's a nice enough song that's well put together and executed. 7/10
10. Voice Inside My Head - Natalie brings her big vocals with her to this track. Incredibly catchy hook, her tone is one of those that you'll either absolutley love or hate on this song. Very twangy country guitars are brought back for a soft-country-rock vibe here. 10/10
11. I Like It - Quite soulful, mid-tempo feel-good track. "Gonna get so high on life you won't be able to bring down". Once again great harmonies and melodies. Gets quite jazzy towards the end, this one will put a smile on the most pessimistic faces. 8/10
12. Baby Hold On - Slow, soft rock, they sound almost like a new band, it's hard to imagine them playing bluegrass now! Yet more amazing melodies and harmonies...name me any female group that can do this as good as them? Great guitar solo that's so far from country! The vocals are still stong, she doesn't get enough credit for her voice! 9/10
13. So Hard - This was written about Martie & Emilys struggle with IVF treatment, really putting it all out there, that takes guts. Once again, the whole soft-rock thing sounds so natural. 8/10
14. I Hope - This was recorded for the Hurricane Katrina fund, and it's a great inspirational song, not too cheesy but rather real. "Are children are watching us, they put their trust in us, they're gonna be like us" Natalie takes on the Role Model status she was born to have. Very laid back, jazzy, soulful music wise, very easy listening but still with Nat's big vocals giving it that extra fire. You'll be nodding your head to this...9/10
This album is a HUGE change from what they're used to. Most dramatically is the lyrics, maybe they just needed something big to write about? because the songwriting on here is amazing, so raw, emotional and real. Secondly the whole sound of the album is very different, a lot less traditional country, very soft-rock, all the musicians (including Natalie, Emily & Martie) have done an amazing job on this. Natalie's always been outspoken but we've never seen anything as fiery, raw, real and honest as on Taking The Long Way.
I just discovered the Chicks!
2008-09-25 - Our family just bought the "Shut Up and Sing" Dvd and we were blown away. We love Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss and other contemporary country, but I don't know how we could have missed this amazing band. We are buying every Dixie Chicks cd they've recorded not only because we love the music, in addition they have character and are willing to stand up and be counted. Courage should be rewarded. We'll do our part.
What a statement on their comeback!
2008-09-06 - Fantastic album! Nothing less than great songs from start to finish. Demonstrates the group's continued progress from country pop stars to polished contemporary artists. Truly a strong statement of their vision and maturity in the face of political attacks and country radio's abandonment of the group. That's okay--this album signals that they'd outgrown the limitations of country pop anyway.
