Taking the Long Way by Dixie Chicks (CD, May-2006, Open Wide Records)

This has got to be the best CD the DC have made. I bought it a week ago and I haven't stopped listening to it yet. The songs are great and really personal. Amazing CD.

Not nearly as good as their last cd. Natlie spends way too much time whinning about people not liking her.

I loved the Dixie Chicks before and love them now. I don't understand how 'some' people ban their music or hate them for speaking their mind???!!!?? Isn't America known for their freedoms?? IE: freedom of speech.

Let's stick with the music people. These are three talented ladies who used their talent to deal with what they've gone through. Imagine having your life threatened for something you've said!!!

A great CD and worth the $$$.

Who wants to hear Natalie whining about people not liking her??? The "Chicks" always would have been better with someone else singing lead. This album doesn't measure up. They're past tense!

The Dixie Chicks have the right to say what they will! So many forget that these people in the service, as I myself once was, VOLUNTEERED for the job. I am a Vietnam to Lebanon Grenada Vet who says rock an country on ladies for you have the feel of this USA much better than those folks in Washington D. C. (Dixie Chicks?)do. D.C. is not even a true part of this country but a possession. They have no States Rights like any other possession. This Band can speak for this 51 year old Rock/Rap/Reggae freak anytime they wish. I'm a Little bit country as well. Remember Girls, Rock and Roll, R&B, the Blues are all from Country Roots. Take and turn the other cheek and keep up the work this album brings out. Anger just might be your writers Muse! Michael W. Sunday, E/xSP/5 now 100% Disabled for FREEDOM OF SPEECH,CHOICE and all the other parts of the constitution.

Taking the Long Way is an amazingly brilliant and wonderful cd. It shows off the Dixie Chicks musical and singing abilities. You can hear the emotions that these songs are dripping with through Natalie's powerful voice along with Emily and Martie's superb harmonies. The cd stays true to their roots, with Emily and Martie's extremely talented instrumental abilites, but it also has touches of rock and a 70's vibe, which all work great together. Every song was written by the Chicks which again shows how multi-talented they truly are. This is their strongest cd to date. Every song has a meaning to it. The subject matter ranges from infertility,Alzheimer's disease, finding love, pondering past descisons, people knowing all your business in a small town, and one of the most inspiring songs on the album, "I Hope," which is about hoping for a peaceful and happy world and teaching your childern the diffence between right and wrong. The title song on the album, "The Long Way Around," is an autobiographical songs about how the Dixie Chicks have came about and have became what they have. This cd makes all the other country artists look rather silly. Country music has slipped back down to this horrble place that makes it look stupid and very hickish which is why a lot of people never liked country music in the first place. The Dixie Chicks made country cool again and most songs on country radio today have no meaning and are hollow. The Dixie Chicks shine far and above the rest in any genre of music. This is a cd you should definately add to your collection and it is well worth your money. After you listen to the cd you will know what I am talking about. Taking the Long Way will become a classic and an example of what great music is.

Why is that someone who criticizes Bush hates America? but idiots like Rush Limbaugh and Ann coulter and every other red neck hick in America can criticize Clinton (even getting their own TV shows and book deals) but that isn't "hating America"? It is SUCH a double standard. The Chicks have guts. Cause God forbid you talk about Bush, your CIA operative wifes name will get leaked to the media. Whoops? Truth hurts. THis CD is beautiful!

I HAVE A PROBLEM GIVING MONEY TO FOLKS WHO HATE OUR COUNTRY-THEREFORE I RECOMMEND THAT NO ONE BUY THIS.

“Taking The Long Way” is not the clean crisp acoustic sound that drew me to the Dixie Chicks when I first heard their “Home” CD.

Of course, my attention was first drawn to these talented young women because of the news of a comment they made about the President during a European tour date. I did not agree that they would speak out especially outside the country. However, when I heard they were being Black Balled in on many radio stations and their CD’s taken off shelves, I went out and bought “Home” to show support for their right of free speech. Little did I know how much I would love this “Home” CD.

“Taking The Long Way” is just different and now that I am over that fact that it is a little less acoustic sound and more electric Power (Remember when we first heard Blond on Blond by Dylan), I am enjoying it.

Some of these songs and “Not Ready to Make Nice” in particular will be historic, and agree with this response or not, will be a study in the power and importance of this art form. Some years from now some of these songs will be on a short list of important social/political songs right next to Woody Guthrie. This land IS your land! Thank you ladies.

This cd is okay. It isn't their best CD but not the worst either. There are a couple of good songs, the rest are the same as their other stuff.

I have always been a fan of the Dixie Chicks and will admit that I simply could not fathom all the flap made over Natalie Main's use of free speech just because she expressed what was, at the time, an unpopular sentiment. Because we get two different free internet radio services from our IP, buying CDs has moved way down on my list of must haves for quite some time; however, when I heard that the Chicks had released a new CD and that the country stations around the nation were still blacklisting them, I had to buy it. Ok, call me a rebel, too!

I am soooo glad that I did! Not only is it a fabulous listening experience whether one is a fan of country music or not, it is even more importantly an audio testament to the importance of standing up for one's beliefs and suffering the consequences for having done so. Those beliefs take a variety of forms in the songs, but the overriding theme is that we should never regret standing up for what we believe in.

If you haven't bought it yet, let me recommend that you do. If you have ever expressed an "unpopular" opinion, this CD is definitely for you.

This is such an inspiring CD. I always knew I liked them and now I know why. Their songs are heart felt and to the point. They speak from new perspective as moms. They see the world a bit clearer and know that they now must speak out for their children and all those without a voice.

Cd no longer trying to reach it's "stupid" country audience--(Natilie's words from Larry King Live. Does any of them have a higher degree?--Do these girls not know it was the "stupid" country audience whom bought their cd with GoodBye Earl whom sent them off the charts into stardom.Do they even have a manager, of course on their previous Larry King Live, Larry did the math and wanted to know why they were financiall struggling. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure these girls lack some sense here.) They are trying to reach a more intelligent audience, again Nat's words. I found the music harsh/dark trying to deliver a political message.

I had heard of the Dixie Chicks,but I had not listened to or bought any of their albums.I read about the "Taking the LOng Way" album,and I decided to listen to the album not sure what I was about to hear.To my suprise the songs are great.I like their vocal styles and the musical setting behind them.The second time I played the album,I started to listen more closely to the words for each song.Then I began to follow along using the words printed in the album insert.When I read and studied the lyrics,I discovered a depth of meaning with many layers to be uncovered.I beleive that this album is a "True Classic" on many levels.It will be around for a long time.Way to go Dixie Chicks.

SUCKS LIKE A HOMELESS, MUD COVERED, STARVING PIGLET AFTER KATRINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to see them back, great cd from a great band. Been a fan for years. I hve seen them in concert and have already ordered tickets for this tour from their exclusive target presale code on this cd.

Wow, just wow. Don't waste your money on this junk CD. Most of the songs sound like two cats fighting in a gunny sack. I don't know what you would call this music, but it is no longer country..........total crap.

Update 03/07
Well I guess it goes to show you that good music is just that, good music. Now that this album has won 3 Grammy's (including best album 2006). In fact, this album is the first country album to ever win the Album of the Year award. I knew it was a great album about a year ago, and now the Chicks have been given the recognition they deserve for their talent.

I still believe this album is an elegant answer to the abuse they received following their comments about our 43rd President. Since I wrote this review, I've learned a bit more about the hatred and malice that, so called "patriotic americans", have expressed against these three talented women. Shame on them all ! ! ! The malicious individuals shun the very basic inalienable rights that our country was founded upon, "freedom of speech and freedom of expression". Here's one for the good gals of the Dixie Chicks!

Read on for my thoughts about this wonderful album. I would suggest you purchase this album from iTunes where you'll also get a bonus interview by the chicks in which they discuss some of the threats that they've had to endure of the past several years.

I admit that I'm not an audiophile, but I do know what kind of music I like, and this album is great! I don't usually remember lyrics, but the meaningful lyrics of this album seem to stick in my head.

American's behaved reprehensively to these three talented ladies after Natalie Mane's expressed her political opinion about George Bush and the war in Iraq. They got death threats and had all kinds of nasty things occurred in each of their lives because of a comment that radical conservatives couldn't accept.

Well isn't our great nation built on the premise of "Freedom of Speech"? I happen to agree with Natalie's political expression. Even if you don't agree with her political position, she has the right to express it. Isn't that what we're fighting for in Iraq? To all those who express anger towards the Dixie Chicks, shame on you! Maybe you need to think about what it means to be an American!

This is a GREAT album with great lyrics and terrific arrangements. Even if it wasn't so great, I probably would have bought it just to show my support for the freedoms and liberty we enjoy here in these United States! Go Girls Go ! ! !

I think this album is their best yet! I could listen to this CD all day long.

The Long Way Around is fabulous! Not Ready to Make Nice is awesome! My favorite song has to be Lullaby. It's so beautifully written.

It amazes me that people are writing these reviews based on their political views and not on the CD. Get over it already!

This is probably the best Album that has been released in years, carefully thought out and cleverly placed.
I dont blame them for being angry it's only natural to still feel some fury when so many of your loyal fans turn there back on you,I guess they really weren't loyal after all, I mean when you live in a society where people can bash there president what do you expect?, well i'm glad that they are back in the game and hopefully this great nation where forgiveness is strongly preached can be actually practice it. (EXCELLENT ALBUM)

Politics is going down in music for a long time and I don't think there was an overabundance of whining by Natalie. Now there are other unamed singers that really do whine a lot, but I'll buy their cds if I like the sound of the music.
So what's really the problem here? For me personally--none. I love the album and the diversity of music within. It's almost too good! Buy this one now! You won't regret it.

Loved it. Nothing like their others CD's. This cd has more of an alternative country flair. "Not Ready to Make Nice" is my least favorite but it's still a good song. "Taking the Long Way" is an excellent song to listen to while on a long drive. It's very different and worth the hour to listen to it.

Bush fans hate them but this is the BEST cd they ever put out. They wrote every song THEMSELVES from the heart and you can feel the passion in each one. Only in America would people support attacking another country so THEY can have freedom of speech ect. but criticize people from there OWN country who happen the not agree with there FAB Prez.!! Wow go figure!