The Dixie Chicks' silence over the past few years was apparently the result of a battle over royalties with their music company. Thankfully, they are back in full force.
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1. Long Time Gone
2. Landslide
3. Travelin' Soldier
4. Truth No. 2
5. White Trash Wedding
6. A Home
7. More Love
8. I Believe In Love
9. Tortured, Tangled Hearts
10. Lil' Jack Slade
11. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
12. Top Of The World |
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The first two albums were very much a blend of bluegrass, country and pop, but this album is aptly named, as it is a return to the female trio's bluegrass and country roots. If you're looking for the pop or rock elements of the first two albums, you may be a little disappointed.
I don't often listen to country music, but when I do, it has to be good, and the Dixie Chicks are among the best. The talent is evident right from the opening bars of the up-tempo first track, “Long Time Gone”. These girls can certainly play their instruments, and their harmonies are seamless.
Emily Erwin's lightning fingers get the most out of her banjo as well as her other instruments, the accordion, guitar and dobro. Martie Maguire also does justice to her instruments, mainly the fiddle, viola and mandolin.
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Wide Open Spaces and Fly sold more than 20 million copies in the US alone |
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Natalie Maines, who sings the lead vocals, has a fantastic voice that she can use to sound syrupy sweet, as in the lullaby-like “Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)”, romantic (“I Believe in Love”) and just plain sassy (“Truth No 2”).
Most of the tracks are a little slow and definitely only for country fans, but the faster bluegrass sounds are there in “Long Time Gone”, “Truth No 2” and the humorous “White Trash Wedding”. How they got away with the last track in the US is beyond me. It's hardly a politically correct song with lyrics like “You can't afford no ring/You can't afford no ring/I shouldn't be wearing white/And you can't afford no ring.” It's a fun foot-stomping song that could have been inspired by a Jerry Springer episode. “Long Time Gone” was released as a single in the US and has become the fastest-moving single in the Dixie Chicks' career.
The Chicks have done a lot to introduce many pop fans to country music through their first two albums. With the return to their country roots, I'm not so sure they'll carry those pop fans over. But their country fans will no doubt be very pleased with Home. If you like very good, fresh-sounding country and bluegrass, Home is a must.
Overall rating: 1
Ratings guide:
1: I have to have it
2: I'd buy it, but it has its flaws
3: I wouldn't buy it, but I'd keep it if it were given to me
4: I wouldn't buy it, but I won't ask you to switch if off
5: I don't want to hear it
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