Taking the Long Way

Every once in awhile an album comes out that aligns perfectly with the moon and the stars, the sun and the Venus. An album that brings kings to their knees and oceans to a boil. A collection of songs that shakes the very ground we walk on. This type of occurrence is rare, but does happen. Such examples are limited but include the following: Ratt, 'Out of the Cellar', Lynyrd Skynyrd, 'Gimme Back My Bullets', Marilyn Manson 'The Golden Age of Grotesque' and Dixie Chicks, 'Taking the Long Way.'

'Taking the Long Way' is, as of 2010, the Dixie Chicks most recent studio release. After a four year break from 2002's 'Home' and a four year constant bombardment of harassments, death threats and over all media damnation the Dixie Chicks broke the silence with 'Taking the Long Way' in 2006.

Now for those of you that weren't alive or consciously aware of the turmoil and heartache that took place in the lives of these sweet southern girls in the post 9/11 world, let me refresh you...
In March of 2003 at a concert in London, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks said, and I quote; "We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."
Not a huge deal right, I mean who really likes war? Just making a statement whilst having a microphone in front of you at a country music concert shouldn't be that big of a deal. right?

WRONG.

After this remark the Dixie Chicks were virtually blacklisted from everything and made out to be communist Nazis worthy of being stoned to death on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I'm not making this up people, you can research if you want or just think back to just a few short years ago when Dixie Chicks albums were being burned in church parking lots. (I guess there was a shortage on Beatles Memorabilia at that time.)

If this seems ridiculous it's because it is. I think Dave Chappelle summed it up best when he said, "Why would anyone care about what the Dixie Chicks have to say about politics? They're just three bitches that can sing good." Exactly. Why does anyone care about musicians and movie stars stand points on religion or politics or anything? They're entertainers not life coaches! Their views on anything, whether you agree or disagree shouldn't interfere with your opinions or how you judge their art!

I'm getting side tracked..

Never the less the Dixie Chicks were able to rise out of this sea of ignorance and deliver, in all seriousness, one of the best albums I've ever heard. Maybe the main reason why they haven't released anything since 'Taking the Long Way' is because they know it would be a ridiculously hard act to follow...? It's a possibility. In the career of musicians there are albums that define you, and then there are albums that RE-define you. Redefining albums take the best qualities of what you became known for in the first place and then add to that a new and invigorating sense of style, determination, quality and in this case, sassyness.

If the Dixie Chicks were renaissance painters 'Taking the long way' would be their Sistine Chapel. Put it on heavy rotation.