The Dixie Chicks-"Taking the Long Way" Review

The road leading away from 2002 was not just long; it was very, very hard for the Dixie Chicks. After lead singer Natalie Maines made her anti-war comments against George W. Bush in 2003, the honky-tonk south exploded. Through all the feuds (most notably with Toby Keith) and the constant scrutiny from news stations and radios from across the country, the very first casualty was the music, as the Chicks’ album “Home” and its current single “Traveling Soldier” immediately departed from the Billboard charts. However, what was not consumed was the spirit contained in the Dixie Chicks, as they posed naked for magazine covers and did multiple interviews along the way. Especially Natalie Maines, this group was not going to back down, even when faced with such adversity that would’ve made any other star run back to their secret homes in the countryside. So come 2006, with the debacle well behind them, the Chicks had to rethink their next musical move, as the country scene was no longer in their favor. “Taking the Long Way” comes after four years of drama and turmoil, two subjects that the girls don’t avoid. Instead, they confront those issues head on, albeit with a subtle attack. From the starting guitar riff that opens the album, it’s instantly clear that “Taking the Long Way” is decidedly not a return to their country-pop roots. They chose Rick Rubin as the producer, Dan Wilson as their main songwriter; both collaborators are renowned for their understated (and often flat) productions, and the Dixie Chicks are no exception. Remember, they are in the recovering stages from 2003/04, not even a group as strong and as confident as these girls would not have made music as boldly as they did before. But that doesn’t mean that this album is a retreat, either. In actuality, it’s their most pop-based album to date, meant to cater to anyone who’s willing to listen. And the girls offer some straightforward statements, as the title track and lead single “Not Ready to Make Nice” clearly depict. No, the Dixie Chicks have not run away from their humor or their spunk, they’ve simply tamed their attack, choosing stylish adult contemporary over bluegrass and gritty country-rock. In the end, this results in a record that’s not that varied and as riveting as their previous releases, but the songs are still melodic. When choosing Rick Rubin as a main producer, you have to expect him to repeat himself, as the first and second half off this album are almost identical in every way. The album never recovers after the enthralling “Lubbock or Leave it”, but it still gets the message across. That message is: only the Dixie Chicks, three women with nothing to prove and are as unified as ever, could have made this album rise above its own staidness. You can’t blame Natalie, Martie, and Emily for not choosing country, because as the enormous backlash from Natalie’s comment clearly indicates, they’re not just an all American country trio anymore, they’re bona-fide superstars. This is their first album that embraces that, as they continue to hum along on Martie’s violin and Emily’s guitar, and are carried along with Natalie’s versatile, powerful vocals, but even more so than they did in 2002. They’ve dug deeper than they ever have, which gives “Taking the Long Way” a bruised and beautiful color. It’s not as layered and as interesting as “Wide Open Spaces” or “Home”, but its still an essential part of who the Dixie Chicks are as a group. They still have refused to back down, and again have asserted their identity in this lush and moving crossover success.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:

1. The Long Way Around2. 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