Taking the Long Way - Dixie Chicks

It's been a tough few years for the Dixie Chicks since the release of their third album, "Home". Not long after it was released, singer Natalie Maines made comments against President Bush and the war in Iraq. As a result, people started burning their CDs, slinging insults at the group and threatening to boycott their records and gigs.

As country fans turned their backs on the Dixie Chicks, they took a new musical direction ...
...The new album is produce by Rick Rubin, better known for working in other fields, having produced artists as far apart on the musical spectrum as Jay-Z and Slipknot. What he's not known for is producing country music, although he did work with Johnny Cash. It seemed that the Dixie Chicks, having put out their most country music influenced album in "Home", were now following a similar route as Shania Twain did with "Come On Over" ... more

It's been a tough few years for the Dixie Chicks since the release of their third album, "Home". Not long after it was released, singer Natalie Maines made comments against President Bush and the war in Iraq. As a result, people started burning their CDs, slinging insults at the group and threatening to boycott their records and gigs.

As country fans turned their backs on the Dixie Chicks, they took a new musical direction in an effort to widen and increase their fan base. The new album is produce by Rick Rubin, better known for working in other fields, having produced artists as far apart on the musical spectrum as Jay-Z and Slipknot. What he's not known for is producing country music, although he did work with Johnny Cash. It seemed that the Dixie Chicks, having put out their most country music influenced album in "Home", were now following a similar route as Shania Twain did with "Come On Over" and trying to get more fans from other genres. How successful this might be will depend on the quality of the music.

The album starts with the almost title track, "The Long Way Around", proving that the defiance the Dixie Chicks showed back in 2003 is still present. Musically, they appear to have taken a long way around as well, with their sound having much more of a folk influence than before and the latter part of the song particularly sounding a little like the Corrs. It's got quite a bouncy mid-tempo beat and proves to be a decent enough opener, with a pop-folk influence given a slight edge by the country sounding vocals.

There's a slower start to "Easy Silence", which proves to be very much a pop-country ballad. There isn't quite the same strong country influence as on their previous album "Home", but there is a slight edge, especially in the vocals, which gives it just enough of an edge to distinguish this track from the standard pop ballad.

"Not Ready to Make Nice" is the band's response to the abuse they took after criticising President Bush. It's got a much darker feel, in keeping with the tone of the lyrics. It starts off sounding like another ballad, but the tempo does increase a little in the chorus. This is the most country tinged track on the album so far and very much in keeping with the Dixie Chicks past efforts, except for the lyrics.

Fortunately, they cheer up a little for "Everybody Knows". It's another mid-tempo number, which is relatively unusual for the Dixie Chicks, who have usually cut loose by this point of an album. It's not a song that really goes anywhere too adventurous, sticking to the country theme of the previous track.

It sounds like things are going to be a little less happy with a title like "Bitter End" up next. It's another ballad paced number and again has the strong country influence that has been missing from some tracks on the album. It's another fairly plodding track, though, and doesn't do a great deal, with no great variation to either music or lyric to stick out. Whilst there is nothing wrong with the track, at this point of the album, nearly half way through, I do find myself wishing for something more up tempo and fun, like "Goodbye Earl" or "I Can Love You Better".

A song with a title like "Lullaby" doesn't look like being the escape I crave and indeed it isn't, although the guitar intro amuses by sounding very much like the theme tune to a children's TV show, something like "Bagpuss". That is really as interesting as things get, as it's a guitar led pop ballad, with a slightly country hit that doesn't really do anything interesting, even as well sung as it is and at nearly 6 minutes long, does seem to drag by the end.

Finally, the rocky intro to "Lubbock or Leave It" suggests that things are about to pick up. It's very much a rock song with a country edge to it that, with a male vocal, wouldn't sound too out of place performed by the Jayhawks. It's certainly the kind of song I've been hoping I would get to hear for the last few tracks and whilst it's not one of the Dixie Chicks better efforts, it sticks out at this stage for being so different.

"Silent House" is co written by Neil Finn, formerly of Crowded House and you see hear that influence in the music. It's another ballad tempo track, but with a slight folk tinge to it, as opposed to being a straight country track. As before, it needs a change of gender in the vocals, but that apart this could be a Crowded House song.

It's back to the ballads with "Favorite Year" and also a return to the pop-country sound of earlier albums. Sadly, this is again a slightly dull song which doesn't do a great deal and it's no real surprise to discover this track was co-written by Sheryl Crow, as it's quite close to her sound, although maybe a little more country tinged than much of her work.

The intro to "Voice Inside My Head" sounds a little bouncier, which comes as something of a relief. It's only a mid-tempo track, but it's got that slight rock influence again and ends up sounding a lot like the Jayhawks or Proud Mary. As my personal musical preferences have long been towards the rock end of the spectrum, I like this one a lot.

There's a more bar room blues sound to "I Like It", which is a new turn for the Dixie Chicks. There's a country influence hanging around underneath, but this is a little like the Quireboys with a country vocal and the slight rock touches mean it's not a surprise to discover this was co-written by one of the Jayhawks. I do like this one, as it's got a lovely laid back groove to it and quite a summer feel.

Sadly, the way the album was going, this wasn't going to last and "Baby Hold On" is a return to the pop-country ballad sound that has been to the forefront of most of this album. Again, it's not a song that really grabs you and it sort of passes you by, although it does sound like it's been nicely put together.

"So Hard" sounds equally unimpressive as it gets started, although it's a little higher tempo and the country influence is a little stronger this time around. It's still a fairly standard track, both for the Dixie Chicks in general and for this album in particular.

Fortunately, the album does finish on a high note with "I Hope". There is a distinct gospel taste to this one, with a slight country edge underneath it. It's an interesting combination, but it does work out very nicely, if only because it's got something different that has been lacking from much of the album. Given that the album has been so similar all the way through, it's nice that there was something different at the very end.

In terms of the musical influences, this is the Dixie Chicks most wide ranging album, touching upon areas they haven't really gone before, edging their usual pop-country sound with rock, gospel and folk influences. Despite this variation of sound, this is very much a ballad led album, far more so than any of the previous releases. For those who enjoy relaxing and listening to down tempo songs, this may be ideal, but I do prefer an album that mixes things up a little and keeps you awake and guessing a little.

This is also the longest of the Dixie Chicks studio albums and the repetitive nature of it does make it feel a lot longer than it is. Whilst this might be a good thing in terms of value for the money you pay, it does outstay its welcome a little bit. It is a decent album and the songs themselves are very well done, but without the great variation in styles as on their previous albums, it does become a little wearing and therefore isn't as good as it could have been.

This may appeal to people who aren't normally country fans as such, but do like middle of the road pop music with a little extra edge. Fans of Sheryl Crow, the Corrs and Crowded House may not find anything too different here that it will become offensive. Fans of traditional country music, however, may not be quite as impressed and fans of the Dixie Chicks may not necessarily appreciate the slight change of direction that this album represents.

As a big fan, I paid £9.99 in HMV for my copy of the album, which is not the best value, even for slightly over an hour of music. As a new album, the prices are still fairly high, with Amazon asking £8.99; Play £8.95 and CD Wow £8.75. Unless you're a really big fan, this would be too much and the Amazon Marketplace offers copies from £5.99 and eBay from as little as 10 pence. If you're a slight fan of either the Dixie Chicks or any of the groups mentioned, it's worth a shot at that price, but it's an album that won't go on constant play, as it's not good enough as a whole. In parts, however, it's good enough that it shouldn't be missed. 

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