New Albums / CDs

This album has been long awaited, hopefully it will be worth it. Maybe if they could concentrate on their music and do less politicing these things would not take so long.

DIXIE CHICKS
TAKING THE LONG WAY
TRACK BY TRACK

1. The Long Way Around

Emily: That's a journey song, about the different stages in our lives. A recap of where we've been, where we're going - and it was nice to remind ourselves of all that.

Natalie: We've always written songs that are about other people. It's so much harder to put yourself out there and be honest with your emotions and your beliefs, but the songs are so much better and mean so much more when you can let yourself be vulnerable.

2. Easy Silence

Martie: We didn't set out to write a lot of love songs, but we're all probably in the best place we've ever been with our mates.

Natalie: There's also a bit of political commentary in there, from my point of view. I had to get a lot of other things off my chest before I could be nice and sentimental. Even when we tried to write a sweet song, there was always a little dig at somebody.

Martie: One of the challenges for me was that the songs we were writing weren't necessarily calling for the traditional kind of fiddling that I am used to doing on our records. The orchestrated approach really pushed me to dig back into my training and remember how to play and write with those sensibilities. Rick really encouraged me to think differently in this respect and not feel limited.

3. Not Ready To Make Nice

Emily: The stakes were definitely higher on that song. We knew it was special because it was so autobiographical, and we had to get it right. We've all gone through so many emotions about the incident. We talked for days with Dan before putting pen to paper, and he really helped get inside our heads and put these feelings out. And once we had this song done, it freed us up to do the rest of the album without that burden.

Martie: We had reached a point where we were laughing a lot about it, and people didn't really know how far it had gone. I realized I had suppressed a lot about the death threat. It all came flooding back in the process of writing this song, I think we all realized just how painful it had been for us.

Natalie: We tried to write about the incident a few times, but you get nervous that you're being too preachy or too victimized or too nonchalant. Dan came in with an idea that was some kind of concession, more 'can't we all just get along?' and I said, nope, I can't say that, can't do it. And we talked about it, and he said, what about "I'm not ready to make nice?" From the outside, normal people really weren't aware of how bizarre and absurd it got. Dan was really good at cluing in to that, saying something that didn't back down, but still had a vulnerability to it. This album was therapy. To write these songs allowed me to find peace with everything and move on.

4. Everybody Knows

Natalie: I find the psychology of celebrity very interesting; the things people are willing to sacrifice to be famous. I think it comes from a sad place. Some are grounded and can keep it in perspective, and some let it take over.

Emily: It's a soap opera, something for people to watch that's bigger than life. And the people who are in the middle of it love that. They want to be perceived as being larger than life. It's like watching "Richie Rich" or "Silver Spoons."

Martie: I'm very proud that when Brad and Jennifer broke up, I didn't know for a month!

Natalie: Sometimes you do feel more claustrophobic. I've definitely become more reclusive and anti-social and suspicious of people, which sucks, but it does come with it.

5. Bitter End

Emily: That started when Martie came in with a little Celtic fiddle riff, just like two notes.

Martie: I'd been listening to the Pogues a lot, and I just started from a drone and a waltz time feel. It was hard at first writing with people you don't know, how much you're willing to put out there and risk getting shot down. We spent long hours just talking with these people, talking about life, collaborating on what we wanted to say

Natalie: It's a lot of hours to spend with somebody if you don't have much in common. These writers are so good, they are constantly questioning if a song is the best it can be.

Emily: Gary Louris is just so melodic - and he's really good at singing nonsense words to the melodies, and then ideas just come out of that.

6. Lullaby

Emily: That was last song that was written for the album. We felt like we said everything we wanted to say, it was time to write a song about our kids.

Natalie: It's a song that you're really going to get and is going to make you cry if you have kids. If you're a teenager, I guess you can skip over it!
One thing that's cool about being a musician is that things live forever, so our kids will always have this as a gift to them.

7. Lubbock or Leave It

Emily: We'd seen a documentary called "The Education of Shelby Knox," which was about a girl - she was 16 at the time, very religious - trying to get Lubbock to teach sex education in the schools. And Lubbock has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy and STDs in the US, so it really showed what happens when you keep this information away from people. Lubbock is also one of the last hold-out radio stations that still won't play us, and of course Natalie is from Lubbock, so she has personal experience with the box that a small town can keep you in.

Natalie: It's not just about Lubbock, but about any small, hypocritical town. Mike was asking me for all the details - the stores, streets and I came up with this long list of names. We talked about the irony of having a big painting of Buddy Holly at the airport -that his face is the last thing you see before getting on a plane! I do feel bad for my family who’s still there and has to defend me - after everything they already went through, to have to do it again.

8. Silent House

Natalie: This song is about my grandmother who has Alzheimer's. It's about walking through her house, that she no longer lives in. Packing up a house, having all those familiar feelings and passing those wonderful memories on to others.

Emily: Martie and I also had a grandfather who had dementia, and you realize that it's up to you to remember them the way they were, because you're going to be a witness to their life. That's one of my favorites on the album. It's kind of a dark horse - it's long, it takes a lot of patience, but I really grew to like it.

Natalie: Even though this song is about our experiences, almost everyone has been touched by something like this. The other writers were all very generous and understood what we needed to say.

9. Favorite Year

Martie: I had an idea for a song where the person knows in their heart that a relationship wasn't right, but still wants the other person to look back on it as the best time in their life. I think I was wished that that’s how my ex husband looked back on our 5 years together, but I know that's not the case. But hey, you can make it true in a song, right?

Natalie: I had just watched "The Big Chill," so that's what I was visualizing. People who were so in love when they were really young, and you really think you're going to spend the rest of your lives together, but then life just takes turns.

Emily: Sheryl Crow worked out the chord progression. We worked on this song together when we were recording "Home."

Natalie: We felt an instant connection to Sheryl, she's very real and funny, easy to talk to and open about herself.

10. Voice Inside My Head

Martie: This one was hard for Natalie. It took a long time for her to feel like she could sing this song and really own it. It's a very heavy subject matter and it took us a while to get it right.

Natalie: It’s one that didn’t come together until the very end. Rick was instrumental in making the sound really work for this song.

11. I Like It

Natalie: The day we wrote “I like It� with Gary we were looking just to write a rock song with a great hook. What I like most about this song is all the layers of harmonies. It was one of those songs that we got to try things vocally, that we had never done before.

12. Baby Hold On

Emily: That's a song touching on where we are in our lives and our relationships, trying to get your partner to be Number One in your life and putting the focus back on your marriage, as opposed to just being mom and dad. Kind of a "where are we now" look at married life.

Martie: I thought we'd write more about our families than we did. We're really good friends, but we don't always talk a lot about our personal lives - maybe out of not wanting to burden the others, or even just to keep a bit of privacy.

13. So Hard

Martie: That song touches on the issue of infertility, which Emily and I both had to deal with. I think we feel a responsibility to break down some of these barriers - it's much more of a common problem than people realize. Someone the other day asked me if twins ran in my family. When I told them I did in vitro they said, "Oh, so you took the easy way." I couldn't believe they said that.

Emily: We both got pregnant through in vitro fertilization, and people usually get all freaked out when we tell them that. I don't find it a stigma at all - people need to start talking about it, because it feels almost epidemic. And it's so wonderful that we have this technology.

14. I Hope

Emily: Keb Mo was one of the last writers we wrote with, and it was so nice and so comfortable working with him. With what he's been through and where he grew up, it's important to him to write positive, uplifting songs.

Natalie: On the other hand, he wasn't afraid to get political, and this ultimately turned out to be a pretty serious song. Hopeful and positive, but serious.

Hi guys, I’ve listened to “Not Ready To Make Nice” and I luv it. Can’t wait for the Album release “Taking the long way”.
I love live music and to my mind you guys do it best. When are you coming down to Australia next?
I fully support your freedom of speech, Keep up the great work!!!

I just wanted to say I thought "not ready to make nice" was very well done. Just remember there's a whole world of people outthere who support you Dixie Chicks. May 23rd, I'm waiting.

As a lifelong resident of Lubbock, I am anxious to purchase "Taking the Long Way," and hear the track,
'Lubbock or Leave It." I have read the lyrics, and they are right on about my home town. I want Natalie, Emily, Martie and Mike to know there are still open-minded people in Lubbock who oppose Bush and have a sense of humor. Keep on saying and singing the truth flat out!!

I have yet to hear any of the cd. I am a life long lubbockite, leaving four times and coming back each time. I love it here. Being a gay woman, I can honestly say I have mostly been accepted as me in Lubbock. I do not agree with natalies opinion of bush...but I do think it was ridiculous how people acted. If people would put that kind of energy into things that really matter, like our children killing one another, we build more prisons, drugs and alcohol addiction is a way of life in this country now....those things instead of acting on a personal opinion comment, perhaps this world would be different. Keep singing ladies. You do it wonderfully. Last I understood, music was an expression of feelings....life, love, opinions...I do hope as you grow older natalie, you love your roots and hometown again...there are some of the best people in the world here...till we get in our cars...then i dont know what happens to us...ha...thanx for the music and thanx to Rupin for getting hold of yall and Mr. Cash....thank you.

I have always loved your music, but I fell in love with the Dixie Chicks in 2003 especially, to have someone in the spotlight who says what you wish you could tell the world, is a great feeling. I cannot wait to buy the album. Not Ready to Make Nice is a song that has touched me more than any song has in a very long time. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate hearing what I think come from someone who sounds so beautiful singing it, and I know that I'm no where near the only one who feels that way. The Dixie Chicks are supported all over the country, and support like that won't waver or fall. It may cause a few fans to fade, but the true ones will back you up and become stronger supports than ever before, count me as one of them.

i'm Going to buy 10 of these to pass out to my friends that say they dont like country music.
some of them are/were bushie supporters.

THANKS FOR A GREAT SONG, DIXIE CHICKS....

TELL IT LIKE IT IS, HOORAY.

DALE MALONEY

I just want to say that I absolutly love "the chicks" and I love their new song "Not ready to make nice", what a clever way to express your thoughts on the " situation". It's done so tastefully and I think you guys should be proud! I can't wait for the new CD! Keep makin' music and f*** everyone else!

We love the Dixie Chicks in Alabama!

We love the Dixie Chicks in Nova Scotia,Canada.God Bless,and keep telling it like it is.The truth will set you free.You have crossed-over to a whole new genre of music.Shame on those who tried to keep you quiet.They represent nothing but bigots.Rednecks who represent the very worst of America!

Wow...One more day. I can't wait to go out and purchase the new Dixie Chicks CD.
It is so uplifting to know that we still have a few REAL artists in the music industry.
Being a resident of San Antonio, I would love to cover up all those disgusting "W" bumper stickers with those that read as follows: A Mind is like a parachute, "it works much better when it is open."
Thanks for exercising our rights to free speech and speaking with an open mind.
I support you ladies 100%...

Stick to Music and stay out of politics.The music speaks your feelings without a soapbox.And as an "artist" you will realize that not everyone will agree with your perception of what you are trying to convey.I give the album a b+

i do not buy cd's but am buyint taking the long way. lullaby was the song on medium and it was great. don't let these jerks get you down. speak your mind it is your right.

Bought it and love it! Best work of art I have heard in a long time! Got my tickets already too, can't wait!

Ladies,
I've been crazy about you and your music ever since the day I stumbled across "I Can Love You Better Than That" on CMT while I was channel-surfing. I love everything you've done, but I must say that "The Long Way" is your best yet! Well done! Please know that there are lots of people who love and admire you...we just don't get as much attention from the press :) Can't wait to see you in Greensboro NC!

"Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism" ~Thomas Jefferson

Ladies,
First of all, you have my undying support! You can say what I think amd feel and make an impact! I have just purchased Taking the long way and I love the CD. I am a huge fan and always will be! Stick to your guns! Question, question! Be heard and leave your mark! You fans will always be behind you!
Always a fan,
Deanna Snider

Hi Chicks
Have been waiting a long time for the new album,congrats to you all it is soooo awesome.Have been looking every day at sites to see when you are coming to australia again.I so want tickets!!!! You ladies are so clever and amazing you all should be so proud of yourselves.The lyrics are so true and real i love them.So do my babies. Always a fan,
kylie m cheers

I think the album is nice, but I don't think it should be considered country, every album the dixie chicks have sounded less and less country and I think with this album their transformation is complete. There sound is much more mainstream now.

Take a long way to Austria! Hope to see you in Vienna!

Hi girls i love your album "takin the long way" i think it is a awesome cd and i think it brings out the best in you and i really think that it tells people on what is going on in the world. The song" Not ready to make nice" reminds me of the song White trash wedding" in your album "Home". Anyways congrats on your children and i cant wait for the other albumbs that you girls are going to be making more albums i hope you are going to. You girls inspire me so much because i really would like to be a singer in a few years. I LOVE YOURE NEW CD!

Just saw the concert in London; keep up the good work, and am looking forward to seeing you at Phillips in Atlanta in October. YOU GO GIRLS, and I'm still ashamed of him, too

People who suddenly won't allow themselves to indulge in a record this outstanding simply because the creators don't agree with our leader's leadership are small-minded and are fixated on punishment. They don't value the freedoms they espouse and instead remind us that it's their choice not to buy their music anymore. The problem is that obviously the purpose behind such a decision is to punish someone for exercising their beliefs, that lady's belief didn't suddenly change the content and quality of her music. I don't base my patronage by politically like-minded individuals, I'm more interested in what it is they're selling. The Dixie Chicks sell very fine music, Taking the Long Way is an outstanding record. That it is now a civic duty to buy their new record is just another reason to buy it.

Hey, I luv ur new album. It speaks the truth. My favorite song is, Not Ready to Make Nice. The video is the greatest. This song sends chills up my spine. It tells how they have put up with people's critisism. I luv it.

We LOVE the Dixie Chicks in Louisville, Kentucky. Specially in Vally Station!!!!!!!!!!!!

By far the best Dixie Chicks album yet. It's the same ol' Chicks with more thoughful and meaningful lyrics, something that probably comes from the fact that they wrote all the songs themselves instead of singing someone else's thoughts and feelings. I really think that if Natalie had waited until now to say what she did, people wouldn't have had such a strong reaction - they just weren't ready to hear it.... now I think they are.

October 1, Frank Erwin Center in Austin... I'll be there.

The new album is great! So many fine songs and sophisticated arrangements, vocal and instrumental. Am I correct in hearing some influences of great female singer songwriters as Joan Baez ["Diamonds And Rust"], Janis Ian ["At Seventeen"]? I particularly like "Everbody Knows", "Lullaby", "Easy Silence", "Favorite Year", and "I Hope."

bought it, loved it, but have loved all your stuff..made the journey to see last concert in Sydney Australia on Sunday October 5th 2003....lets hope you make the trip down under again..

Cheers Kathy Western Australia

I wish I could personally speak to the Dixie Chicks. I used to hate country music, but after I heard Natilie, I found a new respect!!! the chicks are grrrrrrrrrrreat!!! they are girl's girl's and I dont blame them for saying what they did, the president is a fucking idiot, and for those of you who take it personal.....send your kids to lay in pres.Bush's arms....and while your at it tell them you'll see them in the afterlife. Cause after bush is done with them you wont see them again. Also the only reason the "chicks" are getting so much shit , is because they are FAMOUS, everyone wants their money. So chill out, if you voted for bush. PS. Pump gas till you bust!!!!!

Just because we dont live in the south doesnt mean we dont want them here in Australia!! We love you down here in the down under!

I dont normally listen to country music and as a busy mum of 3 i dont habitually go to concerts. But going to the chicks sydney australia concert was the best thing i have done for myself in a very long time. such quality artists and so worth the experience. I am an avid fan now and will follow the chicks music in the future.

Every time i hear the name dickie chicks or even

NATALIE it makes me sick. i have to shake my head with discust why? becasue some one never taught natalie RESPECT ! no one says you have to like the president its the disrespect you have for him and others. you are a poor excuse of an american. and if any one should not be liked and ashamed of being from texas it should be us ashamed of you! you just got to big for your britches.and think you are better then anyone even the president
you find it so funny and thats really discusting . now heres one freedom of speach remark. learn some manners and dont show your that ignorant lubbock back yard cheap trash.
(YOU JUST DONT GET IT ! DO YOU NATALIE? ITS ALL ABOUT RESPECT! you not only down greated the president but Texas and united states as if that wasent enough. you made us look as stupied as you in america!!!!! i sure hope that they understand that there is stupied people like you out there in there countrys
i say again like the rest stick to singing NATALIE!

NATALIE NATALIE NATALIE!
When will you learn to keep your big mouth shut!
dont you think you have done enough damage. just when it had died down you get on nite line and call the president of the united states an mfer! omg girl when will you stop. you wonder why your sales have droped . well let me tell you girl its your self respect and the respect you have for others. again when will you learn or have you gotton such a big head you think nothing can bring you down ? remember who got you up there. honey it was your fans. and also remember they can bring you down. and think of what your doing to those two other singers that sing with you and the band ( fro once in your life NATALIE THINK OF SOME ELES OTHER THEN YOUSELF. i guess your still that same slefish country hick from lubbock and amarillo that you ever were.NATALIE !!!?? STOP AND THINK BEFOR YOU SPEEK. tape your self and see who stupied you soundand some of the things you say.have some RESPECT. if anyone should be ashamed of anyone it should be the texens ashamed of you being from Texas all you did was show your stupied! and all we can hope is that the whole world dont think were as stupied and dumb as you!remeber all the make up in the world cant cover stupity. you know its sad you have good songs out and you sing beatiful why dont you just stick to that and keep your opions to yourself ... you'd do the other chicks a justice.

I love the dixie chicks. I went to see the concert in Toronto on the 28th and I loved every minute of it.
This concert was much more about the music than the theatrics that you normally see at concerts. Strictly music.
When they sang their songs, especially the new ones like "Not ready to make nice" they sang with so much passion and force it was gripping, there's no other way to describe it. I've never witnessed anything like it before.

Also, Natalie is hilarious, she's so honest and she speaks her mind. More people should. We could learn a lot from her. Why is she being prosecuted for having an opinion, what is this the 1950's? Get over it!
I don't think its right the way people destroyed the bands Cd's during the 'incident' (which only turned into an incicdent because it was blown out of proportion.)
I find it ridiculous, they weren't dissing the president they were trying to justify the american image, lots of people think bush is a dumb f**k, she's just the one that said something, she was just trying to show people that not all Americans have the views Bush has. Which is entirely true, so why are they pissed?
Canada loves the chicks and what they represent!!! And Im going to see the new documentary "shut up and sing" looks awesome!

This is a message for the the rude and ignorant idiot who graced us with her opinion on the Chicks. Before you post your opinion on the world wide web, calling other people ignorant and disrespectful, take a good, long, hard look at yourself. Maybe if the president was more interested in important issues like health care and education, than in war, you would know how to spell! Learn to spell; develop an educated, intelligent opinion - than write a critique!

PS: In case you don't know what a critique is - it's a criticism!

This album is AMAZING. it's catchy, it's real, it's deep, and i CANNOT wait to see them in concert in AUSTIN. call your radio stations and DEMAND to hear their songs!

On November 4,2006, I purchased 2 tickets for my daughter who is 4 and my wife to attend the chicks concert. Myself, I work security for concerts and attended. My family have enjoyed the Chicks last tour I purchased the "Top of The World Tour" DVD to go with our collection and so that Shelby could put faces to the music. She fell in love with the CD before the video of course. During the concert Shelby was takin by myself to the 3'rd row on the floor and was blown away. The only down fall was that she cried after the show because she could not give them a hug good bye.

Tonight, the wife and I went to the "SHUT UP AND SING" documentary, just to show our support to the Chicks. As people in a free country in Canada as the USA, we just cannot believe how one persons right to speak her/his mind is being punished. Everyone that has burned or crushed their CD's or DVD's just stepped on their own Rights and Freedoms. The only thing is they are just short sighted. Maybe they should move and live in Iraq for a few months to understand Freedom or speech alittle more. The unfortunate part is they just don't understand, is that if they lived there for awhile. The attitude that they have would probably cause them to have a short lifespan.

The people that are black balling the chicks will come back I am sure of it, Maybe not. Our gain in the end. I might not have to wait for the next shipment of CD's to come in before I get a copy.

But sure as I am typing this not, Bush will be gone boefore the Chicks music will die.

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