BuzzFlash Reviews
Taking The Long Way (CD)
by Dixie Chicks
BUZZFLASH REVIEWS
"The Dixie Chicks made music history at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 11, when they became the first female group ever to take home the big three top Grammy honors: Song Of The Year (for "Not Ready To Make Nice"), Record Of The Year (for "Not Ready To Make Nice") and Album Of The Year (for Taking The Long Way).
The Dixie Chicks achieved another Grammy milestone on Sunday when Taking The Long Way became the first Best Country Album ever to also win the coveted Album Of The Year trophy."
George W. Bush and your suicidal followers, take that!
BuzzFlash is not a music critic, like our knowledgeable monthly CD reviewer, Tony Peyser. But we do know the music we like. More importantly, it feels doubly good to support the music we like and the politics we like by buying music from a group that isn't afraid to battle against Bush, even though it's caused them a heap of grief in the country music world.
But even with all the Neanderthal backlash that their pro-America, "anti-Bush the destroyer" comments have caused them, the latest album of the Dixie Chicks, "Taking the Long Way," is topping the charts around the nation. So, our third reason for offering "The Long Way" as a premium is we like winners! They have become, according to their website, the first female group ever to have three albums debut in the top slot.
If you support the Dixie Chicks for their political courage, but don't know their "sound," we can fix that. Go to the Dixie Chicks website and there are some short cuts from each song on the new album. We should mention that unlike Neil Young's "Living with War", "Long Way" is not an overtly political album. Actually, it is a movingly personal one that takes you into family, love, emotions and the consequences of individual choice. And it is good, very good.
As we said, we are not musical experts like our critic, Tony Peyser, but, as your average listener, we can say these women sure have a wonderful harmonic sound to their star quality voices. They are known as country, but are really more representative of the modern Nashville blend of country, folk, rock and pop. In short, they have a style and sound with wide appeal.
Here's what a May 2, Rolling Stone review had to say about "Taking the Long Way": "Following in the bootsteps of other Nashville renegades who eventually outgrew country radio, the Dixie Chicks answer their critics with the unapologetic Taking the Long Way. Their seventh studio album embraces the depth and fury of classic rock while remaining true to the trio's Texas roots. Rather than try to forget about singer Natalie Maines' anti-Bush remarks of 2003 -- which landed them in hot water with a lot of station program directors -- the threesome declares it's still 'Not Ready to Make Nice' and employs Semisonic guy Dan Wilson, Jayhawk Gary Louris and other unlikely contributors to help write hooks as strong as their own sentiments. Producer Rick Rubin enlists Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell to supply thick and gritty accompaniment that raises the urgency level of the album. If you've dismissed the Chicks or need a new reason to love them, the epic, howling longing of 'Voice Inside My Head' will blow your expectations."
No, when our lives, the Constitution, and democracy are at stake, BuzzFlash isn't ready to "make nice" either.
Show your support of the Dixie Chicks. Buy "Taking the Long Way" CD (which was officially released on May 23). They are good. You can curl right up to their music or turn them high as you drive around with the top of the convertible down.
They are quintessentially -- well -- American in their music.
BUZZFLASH REVIEWS