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Home (CD) -- The Dixie Chicks Album That Got Banned from C & W Stations
Dixie Chicks
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Their voices are as about as harmonically in tune as a trio can get. And they play the banjo, guitar and fiddle (and other instruments) in the masterful tradition of bluegrass (especially on this album), country, folk and -- obviously -- crossover music.
Natalie Maines leads with a passionate soprano voice that knows how to modulate with just the right, word-hugging emphasis. They sing songs that you really want to hear, as the lyrics unfold stories and feelings.
"Home" is the album that Country and Western stations shunned because Natalie Maines dared to be the least bit critical of Bush in the run up to the Iraq War.
Of course, she's been proven the patriot, and Bush the scoundrel (except on FOX TV, where they equate the preservation of power at all costs and greed to being "pro-American").
But in the uproar, "Home" got partially lost in the political shuffle.
That's unfortunate, because it's a fine album indeed, clearly in the bluegrass, folk, and Country and Western traditions. But the Dixie Chicks have clearly moved out of the narrow cliches of contemporary Country and Western music and created a style all their own.
"They are the highest-selling female band in any musical genre, having sold 30 million albums as of June 2006."
If you've seen the documentary about the Dixie Chicks, "Shut Up and Sing," you know that they are all married and adoring moms to boot.
They are about as American as apple pie.
It's guys like Toby Keith who have rocks for brains and believe a "boot up" your "ass" equals patriotism who we have to worry about. Besides, he's not much of a musician.
The Dixie Chicks, however, are the real thing.
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