Lora's Album Review - 8/11

[lora]

Got some more country ladies for you guys.

Dixie Chicks
Home
2002

1. Long Time Gone
One of the best country songs of the last decade. Great fiddle from Martie on this, and some more of the Chicks' gorgeous harmonies on this bluegrass ode. Love this line:

"Now they sound tired but they don't sound Haggard...They got money but they don't have Cash...They got Junior but they don't have Hank..."

2. Landslide
The girls do a really nice cover of this Stevie tune, but it still doesn't measure up to the original. The orchestration is very strong though. Love the mandolin. There was a remix of this that was WAY too pop-sounding. Didn't like that one at all.

3. Travelin' Soldier
Three great songs in a row. This one could pass as a post-9/11 tune, but it was actually written in 1999. I've always loved Natalie's vocals on this and those harmonies on the chorus are outstanding.

4. Truth No. 2
More great playing from Martie and Emily on this. Very solid song.

5. White Trash Wedding
This is so incredibly hillbilly! I didn't used to like bluegrass until the Chicks started to really incorporate it into their music and I realized it's not so bad. They, along with Alison Krause, have actually made me appreciate that type of music. The bass on this is really good.

Emily, Martie, and Natalie split the writing credits on this one, also.

6. A Home
Not bad, but not a favorite. It's too slow to follow an upbeat song like Wedding.

7. More Love
Decent. I really like the instruments used on this - uillean pipes and a tin whistle. Very nice touch.

8. I Believe In Love
Written by Martie, Natalie, and Marty Stuart. This is pretty.

9. Tortured, Tangled Hearts
Same writers as track eight on this. This one's much more upbeat than the last. Great banjo and fiddle on this. Another strong track.

10. Lil' Jack Slade
Very cool instrumental.

11. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
This is a pretty song about a woman singing her son to bed at night. The lyrics are really cool. This would make a nice country lullaby.

12. Top Of The World
I'm still trying to figure out what to make of these lyrics. They're very depressing and I'm still not really sure what they all mean. It's a nice song though.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

I think this was the Dixies attempt to so more "traditional country" by capitalizing on all the Bluegrass that was coming out in the wake of Oh Brother.

1. I really did like this. Was nice to hear something new from them.

2. This was them becoming part of the "bigger rock-n-roll community". Gimmie a break. Not a horrible take though.

3. You are right about it being before 911. Actually this and track 8 were both performed by the girls on specials right after the incident. I remember thinking either they were unreleased tracks or from a forthcoming album. It's just that it was awhile before it was forthcoming! I like this one, but it chokes up the hell out of ya!

4. I like this a lot! Probably my fave on here!

5. Annoying. Them trying to be pure hillbilly.

8. Nice one. Keeps in with the theme of the album being more quiet and not so upbeat.

11. They song this live via satelite on an awards show when Natalie starting wearing that stupid mohawk looking hairdo, and she wore her FUTK shirt. Not bad.

Overall, I still like the first 2 albums better, but I wouldn't get rid of this one as there are several winners on it.

[lora]

SAT-Laney's said:

I think this was the Dixies attempt to so more "traditional country" by capitalizing on all the Bluegrass that was coming out in the wake of Oh Brother.

1. I really did like this. Was nice to hear something new from them.

2. This was them becoming part of the "bigger rock-n-roll community". Gimmie a break. Not a horrible take though.

3. You are right about it being before 911. Actually this and track 8 were both performed by the girls on specials right after the incident. I remember thinking either they were unreleased tracks or from a forthcoming album. It's just that it was awhile before it was forthcoming! I like this one, but it chokes up the hell out of ya!

4. I like this a lot! Probably my fave on here!

5. Annoying. Them trying to be pure hillbilly.

8. Nice one. Keeps in with the theme of the album being more quiet and not so upbeat.

11. They song this live via satelite on an awards show when Natalie starting wearing that stupid mohawk looking hairdo, and she wore her FUTK shirt. Not bad.

Overall, I still like the first 2 albums better, but I wouldn't get rid of this one as there are several winners on it.

3. Doesn't it though!

4. This one is really great.

11. Hated that mohawk! What the hell was she thinking??

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't get rid of this album. No Dixie Chicks collection is complete without Long Time Gone. I'd have to have it at least for that!