The cover of the Dixie Chicks new album "Taking the Long Way" could be a shot of downtown New Orleans or some older section of any city where nightlife reigns. Neon lights illuminate two-story storefronts and bounce off windshields and wet pavement, creating a glare that turns reality slightly over-exposed. A streetlight floats behind each of their heads like ghostly orbs. Maybe they’re symbols of where they’ve been.
At the forefront is Maines, Maguire, and Robison, posing in front of an antique black car positioned to take them away from this place. Anywhere, really. It is most evident to look at this darkly lit scene, except the white light exposing the worn cobbled stones under their feet, and see this is nothing like Nashville. There is not a sliver of Nashville in these women. Rather, their dark eyes and heavy rouge (that brings out the shadows in their cheekbones) is a sexy, street-wise look that evokes the fashion chic of the late 70's and 80's female rock scene-- Linda Rhondstat, Pat Benatar, and Blondie, to name a few.
And for the record, the Dixie Chicks have sought to distance themselves from Nashville since Maines criticized the president three years ago. The backlash and the death threats revealed a side to the country-western genre that surprised them, though many of us non-country-western listeners believed existed all along. Professionally, this backlash allowed them to transform their sound to a sound that Maines stated she always wanted to sing.
The music of the Dixie Chicks never interested me until their wonderful remake of Stevie Knicks, "Landslide." I followed the news of their political comments and fallout with interest, but never ventured to take a listen to "Home." (I am not a fan of country. Period.)
Earlier this year, however, I read an article in TIME or Newsweek in which Maines mentioned that they had changed their sound. This interested me enough that I logged onto their website the last week of May. This is when I was first introduced to the song "Not Ready to Make Nice," which speaks directly to Nashville and their fans--how they treated them after their comment about the president. I was immediately taken by the heavy guitar riffs opening the song. It sounded more like a song from the rock band LIVE. I was also taken by the lyrics and emotion behind the vocals. It's fitting that this was the first single released from the CD:
Forgive? Sounds good. Forget? I’m not sure I could.
They say, time heals everything. But I’m still waiting.
I’m through with doubt. There’s nothing left for me
to figure out. I’ve paid a price and I’ll keep paying.
****
I know you said can’t you just get over it.
It turned my whole world around and I kind of like it.
I made my bed and I sleep like a baby, with no regrets
and I don’t mind sayin’. It’s a sad sad story when a mother
will teach her daughter that she out to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I’ve said
send somebody so over the edge that they’d write me a letter
sayin’ that I better shut up and sing or my life will be over?
"Taking The Long Way" highlights the trio’s acclaimed harmony throughout the CD, but especially on songs such as the beautiful "Lullaby," "Easy Silence" which speaks at the state of the world, "Silent House," and "Baby Hold On." But Maine’s vocals on many songs (especially "Baby Hold On") exhibit an emotion that is so vivid and on the surface that it is absolutely exemplary–there is an immediacy to it that is utterly convincing and striking to the heartstrings.
"Taking The Long Way" is a compilation of songs that are solid, timeless, and simply delightful. Hear their new sound shine through on songs such as "So Hard," "Favorite Year" (co-written with Sheryl Crowe), "Voice Inside My Head," and "Silent House" (co-written by Neil Finn, formerly of Crowded House). Pay attention to their hell-raising attitude of "Lubbock or Leave It" and "Not Ready to Make Nice," both of which gives country rock a run for ingenuity and style. And be convinced by their closing number "I Hope" that these women have just given music a classic song and album. They’ve won me over. Hook. Line. And sinker.
I can just see it now: the Dixie Chicks and Kanye West are vying for the top Grammy’s of the night-- Song of the Year and Best Album of the Year. And Kanye loses for the second year in a row. That’s how solid this "Taking the Long Way" is.
"Taking The Long Way" has been at #1 in sales for two weeks running now (526,000 units sold the first week, 271,000 units the second week). Home sold 780,000 units in its first week of release in September 2000.
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