Taking the Long Way [LP]

by The Chicks

Overview

The road leading away from Home, the Chicks' acclaimed 2002 return to straight-ahead country, proved to be quite rocky for the Texan trio, largely due to anti-George W. Bush and anti-war comments lead singer Natalie Maines made during the long crawl to the 2003 Iraqi War. Maines' words, initially spoken off the cuff in concert but then repeated in numerous interviews, earned her plenty of enemies within the country community (most notably Toby Keith), but despite the hailstorm of publicity, Maines, Martie Maguire, and Emily Robison did not back down, even as their country audience slowly diminished. But by that point, the Chicks were bigger than a mere country act anyway: they were international superstars. Their sound and sensibility played to an audience that was much bigger and more self-consciously sophisticated than the country audience, so their shift from country to pop on 2006's Taking the Long Way feels natural; even the neo-bluegrass of Home felt like a kindred spirit to the alt-country movement and such AAA singer/songwriters as Sheryl Crow, not the pure bluegrass of Ricky Skaggs, or even the progressive Alison Krauss. Given the controversy of 2003, the conscious distancing from country makes sense -- and given songs like the defiant "Not Ready to Make Nice" and the redneck-baiting "Lubbock or Live It," the Chicks don't sound like they're in retreat on Taking the Long Way, either; they merely sound like they're being themselves. And Taking the Long Way is as genuine a Chicks album as Home or Wide Open Spaces, feeling like an accurate reflection of the trio's current life. They are now savvy, sophisticated urbanites -- the album cover makes it seem like they've stepped out of Sex and the City -- and the music reflects that. It's rooted in country -- or more specifically country-rock -- and it wouldn't sound out of place in Nashville, but sounds more suited for upscale apartments and coffeehouses. The sound might be a little more NPR than hot country, but the trio's harmonies still shine brightly, they still play with conviction, and they still have a strong body of songs here. No doubt reflecting the influence of producer Rick Rubin, the Chicks work with songwriters well outside of the Music Row mainstream: naturally, Sheryl Crow makes an appearance as a co-writer here, but so does acclaimed pop tunesmith Neil Finn, alt-country mainstay Gary Louris, bluesman Keb' Mo', Heartbreaker Mike Campbell, and through much of the album, Semisonic/Trip Shakespeare frontman Dan Wilson. All are accomplished songwriters whose strengths may not seem to lie in country, but they all know how to structure a song, and they help give the group direction and the album focus. Rubin's skill on picking collaborators for the trio makes up for his typically flat production -- it's clean and classy but not colorful, which it begs to be, given that this is a pop album filled with different styles and textures from rollicking rock & roll to soulful laments to sweet ballads. But this lack of zest in the production is forgivable because Taking the Long Way is otherwise a strong, confident affair that is far from suggesting the Chicks are being cowardly for moving away from country. Rather, they're bravely asserting their identity through this varied, successful crossover move. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/15/2016
Label:	Sony Music / Open Wide Records / Columbia
UPC:	0888751758414
Rank:	44341

Tracks

Disc 1

1. The Long Way Around [Album Version]
2. Easy Silence [Album Version]
3. Not Ready to Make Nice
4. Everybody Knows [Album Version]
5. Bitter End [Album Version]
6. Lullaby [Album Version]
7. Lubbock or Leave It

Disc 2

8. Silent House [Album Version]
9. Favorite Year [Album Version]
10. Voice Inside My Head [Album Version]
11. I Like It [Album Version]
12. Baby Hold On [Album Version]
13. So Hard [Album Version]
14. I Hope [Album Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Chicks   Primary Artist
Rick Rubin   Primary Artist
Steve Kujala   Flute
Larry Corbett   Strings
Bonnie Raitt   Vocals (Background)
Terry Landry   Sax (Alto),Sax (Baritone)
Larry Knechtel   Piano,Wurlitzer,Organ (Hammond)
Smokey Hormel   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Emily Robison   Banjo,Sitar,Papoose,Accordion,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Joel Derouin   Strings
Lenny Castro   Percussion
Jonny Polonsky   Bass,Piano,Lap Steel Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Lloyd Maines   Mandolin,Pedal Steel
Marvin Etzioni   Mandolin
Brad Warnaar   French Horn
Natalie Maines   Vocals,Omnichord,Vocals (Background)
Andrew Duckles   Strings
Martie Maguire   Viola,Violin,Strings,Mandolin,Vocals (Background)
Chris Testa   Xylophone,Orchestral Chimes
Dan Wilson   Bass,Piano,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Gary Louris   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Lon Price   Sax (Tenor)
Benmont Tench   Piano,Harmonium,Wurlitzer,Tack Piano,Harpsichord,Farfisa Organ,Organ (Hammond)
Brian Swartz   Trumpet
Gerardo Hilera   Strings
Matthew Funes   Strings
Mario de Leon   Strings
Richard Dodd   Cello

Technical Credits

Rick Rubin   Audio Production,Producer
Patty Griffin   Composer
Steve Berlin   Horn Arrangements
Sheryl Crow   Composer
Emily Robison   Composer
Greg Fidelman   Engineer
Linda Perry   Composer
Jim Scott   Engineer
Keb' Mo'   Composer
Natalie Maines   Composer
Neil Finn   Composer
Mike Campbell   Composer
Martie Maguire   Composer,String Arrangements
Chris Testa   Engineer
Dan Wilson   Composer
Gary Louris   Composer
Suzie Katayama   String Contractor
John Silva   Engineer
Pete Yorn   Composer
Brian Swartz   Horn Arrangements
Vanessa Parr   Assistant Engineer
John Netti   Mixing Assistant
Kevin Reagan   Design,Art Direction
Brent Lawler   Hair Stylist
Bret Healey   Design
Lindsay Chase   Production Coordination
Mark Seliger   Photography
Marjan Malakpour   Stylist
Susan Gibson   Composer
Kevin Dean   Assistant Engineer
Richard Dodd   Mixing,Mastering