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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Taking The Long Way
by Dixie Chicks


8.1

based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 126 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

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FILM:

Dixie Chicks: Shut Up And Sing

Official Artist Site

Rick Rubin "executive" produced the controversial country outfit's first release in four years. John Mayer, Bonnie Raitt, and members of Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Heartbreakers guest.

LABEL:	Sony
RELEASE DATE:	23 May 2006
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Country

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Entertainment Weekly

Finally, they put their music where their opinionated mouths are.

Rolling Stone

[It] embraces the depth and fury of classic rock while remaining true to the trio's Texas roots. [18 May 2006, p.226]

PopMatters

Apart from the political material, they’ve rustled up some of their most gorgeous melodies.

NOW Magazine

There's still some banjo-pickin' and fiddle-playing, but The Long Way's clean, soft-rockin' vibe is striking in contrast to the traditional bluegrassy leanings of 2002's Home.

All Music Guide

[The] lack of zest in the production is forgivable because Taking the Long Way is otherwise a strong, confident affair.

Mojo

It's another good one. [Jul 2006, p.100]

Austin Chronicle

With The Long Way Around, the Chicks haven't turned a corner as much as locked horns with their recent past, their spirituality and spunk intact, heroines on the side of truth.

E! Online

The Texas trio sounds like a new group.

Stylus Magazine

Those voices alone are enough to devastate, and they’re the reason this album deserves mention among the year’s best.

Billboard

The first-time pairing with Rubin has resulted in a surprisingly cohesive mix of country and rock tunes.

Amazon.com

On first listen, Taking the Long Way seems too somber--in need of a bit of levity and more than a couple of uptempo songs (like the sexy, '60s-flavored "I Like It") to resonate for the long haul. It also seems to lack the writing quality that Darrell Scott, Patty Griffin, and Bruce Robison brought to Home. But on repeated plays, those concerns dissipate.

Blender

This album has some of what was missing from Home: fire, ugliness, resentment. [Jun 2006, p.135]

Uncut

The development in their songwriting is dramatic. [Jul 2006, p.90]

ShakingThrough.net

Taking the Long Way wraps its still-raw emotions in sweet satin sheets of breezy, middle-of-the-road pop. While there are still some country elements, the album mostly exists in that top-down netherworld of Sheryl Crow albums and Tom Petty's "Learning to Fly."

The Onion (A.V. Club)

If anything, Taking The Long Way is overly blunt, as though the group felt it has an image to maintain. The anger feels calculated.

The Guardian

Ironically, just as they have become a liberal cause célèbre, the Dixie Chicks sound more conservative than ever.

Q Magazine

The bulk sounds little different from most of what passes for mainstream country these days. [Jul 2006, p.113]

Slant Magazine

It's not just Rubin's production choices that fail, though--it's the songwriting.

The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 126 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jack gave it a5:
Yet another politically charged album that appeals to the Air America crowd and is despised by the Sean Hannity crowd. If I want politics, I will listen to any of those talk radio programs. If I want music, give me music, not a temper tantrum from some partisan POV.

Patrick gave it a10:
Anybody who gives it a 0 or 1 obviously holds a huge bias. There are so many great songs on this album. 10 because it deserves it

francisco g gave it a10:
The best album of the year without a doubt.... flawless!!!

Aaron L gave it a10:
Another amazing album by one of the most incredible groups to date.... Taking The Long Way is sure to hold a place in my cd player for a long time to come... "Taking The Long Way", "Not Ready To Make Nice", "Silent House", and "I Hope" are certainly heart felt, personal works of art!! Enjoy!

QI M. gave it a9:
It is truely a great album ,so meaningful,chicks go down ur own way like this ,I will show my best support,PS,bush goes the hell

martin J gave it a0:
Never release an album again!

p g gave it a1:
glad someone in the south has made a political statement. now someone please make a real album. if you actually like this album, go buy neko case, it'll blow apart your head, it's so much better.

Taking The Long Way by Dixie Chicks

Taking The Long Way
by Dixie Chicks