Country & Truckerhits [Import]

Country & Truckerhits [Import]

ASIN: B00000B6IF

Track Listings

1. Auf Der Autobahn (On the Road Again)

2. Bärenstark

3. Ich Möcht' So Gerne Mal Nach Nashville [Live]

4. Dieselcowboys [Mountain Music]

5. Country Music Nachts Bis Um Halb Vier

6. Heiße Bräute und Kühles Bier

7. Silbervogel

8. Unser Lied Im Radio [Listen to the Radio]

9. Detroit City [Live]

10. Six Days on the Road [Live]

11. Some Broken Heart Never Mend [Live]

12. King of the Road [Live]

13. I Can't Stop Loving You [Live]

14. Green, Green Grass of Home [Live]

15. Truck Drivin' Man [Live]

16. Take Me Home, Country Roads [Live]

Tracks:

Lost Highway
Summertime
Make a Memory
Whole Lot Of Leaving
We Got It Going On
Any Other Day
Seat Next To You
Everybody's Broken
Stranger (feat. Leann Rimes)
The Last Night
One Step Closer
I Love This Town

Amazon.com

Given the chart success of their Grammy-winning country single "Who Says You Can't Go Home," it's no surprise Bon Jovi upped the ante by recording an entire album paying homage to Nashville. In some ways, it's amazing they didn't do this sooner, given the way Keith Urban in particular is blurring country-pop lines, much as Garth Brooks and others did in the 1990s. To their credit, you won't find predictably shallow invocations of past country icons or any self-conscious, in-your-face down-home twang added strictly to remind the listener of the musical premise. In fact, Lost Highway isn't "Bon Jovi goes country" so much as a meaningful tribute to the Nashville ethos done on their own terms. They honor the spirit of the town through 12 simple, direct originals. The intimate, smoldering "(You Want To) Make a Memory," the ballad "Seat Next To You," "Lost Highway" and its roaring celebration of freedom, and "Stranger," an effective duet with LeAnn Rimes, all invoke country's spirit, and "I Love This Town," an eloquent nod to Nashville itself, ties it together admirably. --Rich Kienzle

Album Description

"Artistic freedom made this record possible," says Jon Bon Jovi. "Musical freedom to explore--and emotional freedom to express what was in our hearts."

The result of that freedom is Lost Highway, an album Jon describes as "a Bon Jovi record influenced by Nashville."

Bon Jovi explains. "Nashville is all about songs and songwriters. If you're someone like me who loves songs and hanging out with songwriters, Nashville is the place. I thrive on that feeling and I'm inspired by that creative ambience."

The result, a haunting set of 12 new and original sounding songs, is a stunning, multi-layered look into the nature of love and life in all its glory. Love, like life, is lost, found, forgotten and reclaimed in this collection.

The moods are many, but the core feeling is pure Bon Jovi.

"Writing this record with Jon was deeply cathartic," says Richie Sambora, who collaborated on ten of the songs. "I was going through emotional changes that were new for me. An ailing father. A painful divorce. The start of a new chapter in my life. I poured everything I had into this project, every last bit of soul at my command."

"For over twenty years now," Jon explains, "Richie and I have been close collaborators. Even when our songs create fictional stories, they reveal our states of mind. To a large degree, Lost Highway focuses on the light that love brings. When you shine the light on love, you see the chinks in the armor. You see every crevice, every crack. And that's all right".

Tracks:

goodnight rose
two
everybody knows
halloween head
two hearts
tears of gold
the sun also sets
off broadway
rip off
oh my god, whatever, etc.
pearls on a string
these girls
i taught myself how to grow old

Amazon.com

Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams's ninth solo studio album, is a return to form in every way. He's already shown that he can bash out three albums in one year--not to mention the hilarious fake hip-hop records posted for free on his Web site--and that he can sound as much like the Grateful Dead as he wants to in his constant subsequent touring. Backed once again by the Cardinals, Adams synthesizes and refines his approach to smooth, gorgeous country-pop. "Tears of Gold" is one of the best songs he's written in ages, while "Two" is a slowly percolating, sweet little number that recalls Sean Hayes in its soulful folksiness (someone named Sheryl Crow accompanies Adams on vocals). One of the greatest treats of this languorous, twangy album is the subtle ways that genre gets played with. "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old" is the best Harvest outtake Neil Young never wrote, while the treated, synth-sounding guitar solo on the druggy, chooglin' "Halloweenhead" sounds like it comes straight out of Journey. And "The Sun Also Sets" sounds more than a little like Rufus Wainwright covering Fred McDowell's "Write Me a Few of Your Lines." It bursts with enough melodrama as to border on musical theater. But, as is clear on these songs of love and loss, Adams has always been at his best when giving into his most mellow, dramatic side. --Mike McGonigal

Ryan Adams Photos

More Ryan Adams

Heartbreaker
Gold
Love Is Hell

Album Description

I think there are really only two kinds of pop music CDs these days. There are the ones you listen to only once or twice, maybe downloading the single good song to your iPod or computer; then there are others that grow stronger, sweeter, and more necessary each time you play them. Gold was that way; Cold Roses was that way; so was Jacksonville City Nights. I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either. What I know is there has never been a Ryan Adams record quite as strong and together as Easy Tiger; it's got enough blue-eyed, blue-steel soul (with the faintest country tinge) to make me think of both Marvin Gaye and the Righteous Brothers. Probably ridiculous, but true. And the songs themselves are beautiful--the lyrics tightly focused and brief, the feeling one of melancholy calm that will probably be a revelation to fans that remember the old, sometimes angry Ryan Adams.

Now there's this, maybe the best Ryan Adams CD ever. And I know you want to listen to it right away. But slow down. Take your time. This album asks for that, and it will reward your full attention.

In other words--easy, Tiger.

Tracks:

All I Wanted Was A Car
Ticks
Online
Letter To Me
I'm Still A Guy
Some Mistakes
It Did
Mr. Policeman
If Love Was A Plane
Oh Love Featuring Carrie Underwood
Better Than This
With You, Without You
Previously Featuring Kung Pao Buckaroos (Little Jimmy Dickens,
Bigger Fish To Fry Featuring Kung Pao Buckaroos (Little Jimmy Dickens,
When We All Get To Heaven
Throttleneck

Amazon.com

Like his friend Vince Gill, Brad Paisley has achieved the often-difficult feat of reconciling being an entertainer and world-class guitarist. He's proven that on four admirable albums, and 5th Gear follows in that vein. Certainly "Ticks," an airy, radio-friendly ditty, is not the true substance here. That comes with such superior fare as the insightful "All I Wanted Was a Car" and "Online," a sly satire of people's Web facades. While his duet with Carrie Underwood ("Oh Love") is a bit cut and dried, Paisley ably handles "Letter to Me," "It Did," and "Mr. Policeman," a 21st-century outrun-the-law tune. The closing hymn, "When We All Get to Heaven," and ripping instrumental "Throttleneck" are Paisley at his best. It's admirable that he invites his venerable buddies, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, Vince Gill, and Bill Anderson, along with Dolly Parton, to join in, but the obligatory "Kung Pao Buckaroos" skit is wearing a bit thin. Better to feature them musically, the way he includes Dickens, Gill, and Anderson on "Bigger Fish to Fry." In a time where lines between county and pop are blurring far too much, it's comforting to know Paisley still realizes and respects the differences. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews:

Very Solid Cd and I'm Not A Big Country Fan.......2007-06-21

I first heard Brad Paisley when he had the song "Whiskey Lullaby" out and I liked it. I had never purchased a Paisley cd and decided to purchase this one after hearing "Ticks." I enjoy every song on the cd. There are no filler tracks. I personally like "All I Wanted Was A Car," "Online" and "It Did," and the duet with Carrie Underwood. I would recommend this album to anyone. Brad knows how to write songs that people can relate to and he has done it with 5th Gear.

hey, hey, mr. policeman...........2007-06-21

the me neither of 5th gear. This tune alone is worth the CD purchase, but as usual, it's just one of the many gems on this album.

Better & Better & Better.......2007-06-20

I bought this cd thinking it would be good. After all Brad's last two cds were great. So I was expecting it to be very good. I started to play the cd and was literally enchanted and immersed in the music, the beat, the lyrics-oh my goodness. This is his best yet! If this cd does not take every country grammy and CMA next year, well I will be floored. What I love about Brad is his originality of subject while staying true to country. The song about finding ticks and the song about still being a guy-well I can only tell you in real life I was the woman in these songs. And the reference in another song to Richard Petty in the old 43 stole my heart (Nascar call Brad and get the rights to play this song-please!!). The Carrie Underwood song is great, just like his Allison Kraus songs in the past. I can honestly say there was not one song I did not love. I listened to it while walking on the beach on Absecon Island; I will be out there again tomorrow. I was literally dancing, swaying and skipping in the sand with a bright smile on my face. Thank you so much Brad!!! Keep on doing what you are doing. You are a class country act. I thought Tim McGraw's newest cd was very good and would be my favorite this year, sorry Tim. I still like yours and highly recommend it, but Brad beat Tim on this one. Last year I had the great opportunity to see Brad perform at The Borgata in Atlantic City in a small venue. He was phenomenal-awesome. His guitar playing is the real deal. And I love the paisley guitars! Run, don't walk to buy this cd.

his best work to date!!.......2007-06-20

This cd is truely an amazing piece of work!! If you've liked any of Brad's work in the past, 5th Gear will not disappoint. It has its share of ballads, it has humourous songs, and it has songs that make you want to crank the radio up and drive fast!! There's a nice instrumental too!

My favorite track is definately "Online." It will surely be released as a single with it's clever look at the way people's identity changes when they login on their computer. A 5'3" man who is overweight and still lives at home with his mom, suddenly transforms into a 6'5" hunk when he goes online. It's just plain hilarious!!

Another track worth mentioning is "Letter to Me." This track is what the singer would say to himself at the age of 17. The lyrics speak of life-lessons. This is one of his more senitmental songs. It really describes the thought process of a young man at 17. It is somewhat inspirational in that it describes the mindset of a 17 year old and how things seem so tough at that age, but having aged a bit, he's learned that things will only get better from there!! wow, what a song!

If you're into ballads, you will fall in love with "It Did." It is obviously a slower song. It describes several of life's little moments and how you think it can't possibly get better at the time, but guess what? It does!!! yay!

There are several fun songs on this album, besides "TICKS" and "Online". "I'm still a guy" looks at the differences between a woman and a man. It mentions all the things a woman will do to a man to make him more feminized, but in the end, he's still a guy. There are some really great lyrics on this track, but I don't want to give it away so go get the album!!

Lastly, I'd just like to say that you don't have to be a Brad Paisley fan, or even a country fan to find something on this album that you will enjoy. The spectrum of songs is so vast that there is something for everyone. What are you waiting for? Get this album, you will be amazed! "*****"

Paisleys career kicked into "5th gear".......2007-06-20

First of all, coming from a long time Brad fan who has seen him on the road many times whole heartedly approves of this album. Another review said that it is no "time well wasted" album, in my opinion this album is of equal quality which really says alot. Some of the best tracks on this album are definately "Letter to me" which is i think one of Bad's best songs of his entire career, followed by the very funny song "online", "i ' am still a guy" is also a great track.

His new album ties in great lyrics, great guitar riffs, fantastic musicianship all the way around, and a great singing voice for his material.

Mainly, you have to be able to identify with what he is talking about, as a guy, i know exactly what he is talking about and i enjoy the "silliness" found in most of his songs. In closing, this album is part of a great collection that will join "part 2" and "time well wasted" in the classic albums hall of fame.

Average customer rating:

Jeff's a pop star now
Wilco Gem
Depressing
Make your own decisions!
matts review

Sky Blue Sky
Wilco
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Icky Thump
Easy Tiger
New Moon
The Reminder
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

ASIN: B000NVIGC0
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

Either Way
You Are My Face
Impossible Germany
Sky Blue Sky
Side With the Seeds
Shake It Off
Please Be Patient With Me
Hate It Here
Leave Me (Like You Found Me)
Walken
What Light
On And On And On

Amazon.com

After their wild experimental streak of the past decade, Wilco's sixth studio album might feel like a bit of a comedown. Sky Blue Sky is mellow, moody, and uncharacteristically monotone, opening with a pleasant jangle and Jeff Tweedy singing a simple song: "Maybe the sun will shine today, the clouds will blow away." He doesn't even follow it up with a barbed punchline. Could it be that the restless Chicago band has settled back into its gentle Americana roots--or does this sudden mid-career reappraisal represent Wilco's gutsiest move yet? Mostly written in the studio by the full band, it's certainly the group's most cohesive album in ages, presenting a dense song cycle padded with intricate guitar work, brushed rhythms, and '70s soft-rock accents. In places it sounds like Wings ("Hate It Here"), in others Harry Nilsson ("Walken"), and in the middle it goes a bit Grateful Dead ("Shake It Off"). At the same time, there's a distinct sense of hearing a band finally at ease in its own skin. Sky Blue Sky represents the sound of Wilco finally pulling through its petulant adolescence. --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

"Sky Blue Sky" has hints of early-seventies Southern California folk-rock sweetness in the harmonies. The album is filled with brash guitar solos that take songs like "You Are My Face" and "Shake It Off" in unexpected directions.

Customer Reviews:

Jeff's a pop star now.......2007-06-18

Jeff Tweedy got his name from rock and roll, but there's little rock and roll on this album. Sky Blue Sky is pretty, commercial, and destined for heavy rotation in Starbucks and on XM Loft and Clear Channel's lite rock stations. It may even cross over to the smooooth jazz stations.

This is one of those rare albums where, the more I listen to it, the less I like it. At first, on casual listening, it sounded OK. On serious listening, Sky Blue Sky breaks into mostly filler for four really good songs: "Let's Not Get Carried Away," "Walken," "What Light," and "Hate It Here." The remaining tracks sound like Norah Jones if she'd hired Carlos Santana, Joe Satriani, or some other shameless noodler to play lead guitar. The comparisons to Summerteeth are valid, but Sky Blue Sky is a weaker album.

"Impossible Germany" is impossible to listen to. It may be the most annoying song since Europe's "The Final Countdown."

Sky Blue Sky is alright, but it's the least interesting of the four Uncle Tupelo spinoff albums released in the past year. Jay Bennett's "The Magnificent Defeat" owns a lot of the genius behind Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Gob Iron's "Death Songs for the Living" and Son Volt's "The Search" own Jay Farrar's underrated songwriting and musicianship.

Wilco Gem.......2007-06-17

Another Gem by Jeff and the boys. Like good novels Wilco turns out albums that are interesting and challenging. If you are a fan of Wilco you'll enjoy Sky Blue Sky. New fans may want a different entry point into Wilco, pehaps Summerteeth. Wilco continues to turn out some of the best American music going. Overall, solid effort!

Depressing.......2007-06-16

In all fairness, the one-star rating has more to do with what this record SHOULD be than what it is.

That said, I honestly can't understand why more people aren't furious with the last two Wilco studio records---other than the possibility that the band (rightly) built-up so much goodwill from previous efforts that (sadly) very few people are listening to them OBJECTIVELY anymore.

While "A Ghost Is Born" sounded like the work of an ego in serious need of being brought down a peg or two, this latest feeble effort sounds like Tweedy's become the new Paul Westerberg. Which is to say that the fundamental songcraft may still be there---but he's been utterly abandoned by his creative muse. There's just no JOY in the music anymore.

It's no coincidence this depressing downturn coincided with the decision to eject Jay Bennett from the band. Which is why we can only hope Jeff will eventually extract his head from the dark, smelly place---and beg Jay to come back to the band: Wilco's just a shell of its former self without him.

So maybe the proper analogy is this: Jeff without Jay is David (Byrne) without Tina, Chris and Jerry, or Sting without Andy and Stewart (or your choice of bandleader gone solo with disastrous results).

In any case, for my money, that's what Jeff and Wilco are these days: Without.

Make your own decisions!.......2007-06-16

I often read reviews and find myself agreeing with the 5 stars and 1 star reviews quite easily. Everyone has an opinion of how the music made them feel at any one particular time. Some are even helpful and sensical.
That being said...
listen to this album. Really sit down, stand up, walk around, and listen to this. I have. The songwriting is refreshing. I find myself liking one song over another each time I listen. I am proud to be a Wilco fan and even happier that the group's style is continually changing. Not improving, but changing. I feel I am also someone who relates with Tweedy's words and thoughts. This obviously makes it easier to absorb and appreciate the album. You need not know the band, its diverse catalogue, or history to get into this.
The best albums, I find, are those that take more than one sitting to decide the number of stars you will assign. Listen. Decide. I hope you can discover the subtle power of the everyman band that is Wilco, and the soulful simplicity that is Sky Blue Sky.

matts review.......2007-06-15

Great music as always from a great band. This cd is different from any of the previous. I love how Tweedy's song writing has grown with my musical tastes since i first bought "being there". This cd has a softer feel, with the guitar and vocal parts sort of dueling back and forth. If you don't like this cd at first listen give it time to digest. You'll fall in love.

Check out the sunken treasures dvd also.

Average customer rating:

Very depressing CD
Wonderful, Wonderful!!!
Pretty listening but slightly morbid
Unique concept.....great collection!
NOT one bad song in this CD, beautiful, haunting, soothing

A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection
Alison Krauss
Manufacturer: Rounder / UMGD
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Calling
Waking Up Laughing
Not Too Late
West
Call Me Irresponsible

ASIN: B000ND91SG
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

You're Just a Country Boy
Simple Love
Jacob's Dream
Away Down the River
Sawing on the Strings
Down to the River to Pray
Baby Mine
Molly Bán
How's the World Treating You (duet with James Taylor)
The Scarlet Tide
Whiskey Lullaby (duet with Brad Paisley)
You Will Be My Ain True Love
I Give You to His Heart
Get Me Through December
Missing You (duet with John Waite)
Lay Down Beside Me (previously unreleased duet with John Waite)

Amazon.com

A Hundred Miles or More carries the subtitle A Collection, and what a curious collection it is--cuts from soundtracks, side projects, and tribute albums, plus guest duets on other artists' albums and five previously unreleased tracks. In other words, this is a collection of Alison Krauss performances that have never appeared on an Alison Krauss album, though it holds together better than such a grab-bag approach might suggest. Highlights such as her duet with Brad Paisley on "Whiskey Lullaby" and her a cappella rendition of "Down to the River to Pray" from O Brother, Where Art Thou? will be familiar to most Krauss fans, though it's doubtful that many share her infatuation with retro rocker John Waite (with whom she revives his "Missing You" and duets on a cover of Don Williams's "Lay Down Beside Me."). Other projects represented range from Disney to the Chieftains to the Louvin Brothers (she duets with James Taylor on their "How's the World Treating You." There's minimal contribution from her Union Station band--making this a solo release by default--and little information to indicate whether the previously unreleased tracks were outtakes from earlier releases or recently recorded for this one. --Don McLeese

More Alison Krauss

Lonely Runs Both Ways

Live

Now That I've Found You: A Collection

Album Description

"A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection" is comprised of 16 tracks, highlighting Alison Krauss's career outside of her traditional releases with longtime band Union Station. The album features Krauss's collaboration with John Waite on the single "Missing You," as well as Krauss's contributions to film soundtracks, including the Oscar-nominated songs "The Scarlet Tide" and "You Will Be My Ain True Love," written for the motion picture "Cold Mountain," and "Down to the River to Pray" from the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Known for her collaborations, Krauss also includes several duets in the collection such as the 2003 hit with Brad Paisley, "Whiskey Lullaby," and her duet with James Taylor for the tribute album "Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers," "How's the World Treating You." The collection debuts five new songs: "You're Just a Country Boy," "Jacob's Dream," "Simple Love," "Lay Down Beside Me," and "Away Down the River," all of which feature Krauss as a producer.

Customer Reviews:

Very depressing CD.......2007-06-20

My husband and I are big fans of Alison Krauss, have seen her in concert 2 times, and will see her again tomorrow night in OKC. However, this CD is sooooo depressing! Almost every song is about death or never finding love. That said, her voice is one of a kind and I'll continue to buy whatever she and Union Station (featuring my man Jerry Douglas) put out.

Wonderful, Wonderful!!!.......2007-06-18

I bought it and I love it. Whiskey Lullaby is my favorite. All the songs are beautiful.

Pretty listening but slightly morbid.......2007-06-14

I love the music and her voice. However, almost every song is about death in some way. It's not offensive or depressing, and there are a wide variety of character perspectives which is interesting like reading historical fiction.

Unique concept.....great collection!.......2007-06-14

Krauss' long time fans might scratch their heads at this collection, but I love the fact that she reached out and hauled in all those collaborative gems from other artists' albums and soundtracks and mixed them all up with four new and superlative songs.

Thus, "A Hundred Miles or More" has been getting a lot of play at my house. Her performances on the "Cold Mountain" and "O Brother Whereart Thou" soundtracks -- both classic collections, were known to me and I was happy to have a second copy. I truly loved her rendition of "Baby Mine" and "I Give You to His Heart" from animated films. The duets with James Taylor and Brad Paisley (last year's award winning "Whiskey Lullaby") were both show stoppers.

But it is the five new songs (2 by the master, Don Williams, "Simple Love" - my personal album favorite" and two "haunters" - "Jacob's Dream and Away Down the River" that truly capture my attention. And unlike, many other listeners, I once loved "Missing You" and think the remake with John Waite is superb.

Glad I bought this funky little CD - you will be, too!

NOT one bad song in this CD, beautiful, haunting, soothing.......2007-06-14

Previous reviews said it for me, all that were positive, that is, which were most of them. If you love Alison, then get this cd. Songs from the past, which do not bore, or seem too redundant; this collection is probably one of the best I've ordered in a long time. It will offer you peace, comfort, some sadness too. let the picture paint itself, for this one.. its the best and more descript reviews will share this with you. Absolutely lovely.. hauntingly beautiful. Light a candle, and kick back to give yourself some peaceful 'down time' to take your cares away and to, also inspire your soul.

Average customer rating:

Very good
Music For Rednecks
terrible music
Pretty Good
AWESOME !!!!!

Big Dog Daddy
Toby Keith
Manufacturer: Show Dog Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

5th Gear
Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace
One of the Boys
Let It Go
Lost Highway

ASIN: B000NIBV0C
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

High Maintenance Woman
Love Me If You Can
White Rose
Get My Drink On
Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya
Big Dog Daddy
Burnin' Moonlight
Walk it Off
I Know She Hung the Moon
Pump Jack
Hit It

Amazon.com

On his first totally controlled album for his own label, Toby Keith adds another title to his résumé: producer. Throughout, the former Oklahoma wildcatter, who's taken heat for his blustery patriotism and outspoken remarks, seems to be seeking new respect, shifting the focus off of politics and grandstanding and back to his talents as a musician. While his last album, White Trash with Money, found him flirting with R&B and adding horns for a bit more bump, his latest effort finds him nearly in a singer-songwriter mood, taking more time to craft the sound of the tracks and laying down his own harmonies. He's still relying on gimmicky wordplay and cartoon puffery for his full-tilt radio numbers ("High Maintenance Woman," "Big Dog Daddy"), but he also showcases the sensitive, ballad-heavy side of his personality that hasn't been as apparent since the '90s ("Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine on You," "We Were in Love"). He achieves this with some fine cowriting--the winsome "I Know She Hung the Moon" and "Walk It Off," and the lusty "Burnin' Moonlight." He also finds two excellent covers, Fred Eaglesmith's "White Rose" (which combines nostalgia for full-service gas stations with that of a teen's coming of age) and the thoughtful Craig Wiseman/Chris Wallin ballad "Love Me If You Can." The latter, a quiet social commentary, revisits Keith's familiar theme of holding one's ground, but with a far more compassionate approach than he's tried before. Consider it a meditation from a brash king of the hill who hasn't forgotten how to be humble. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

Very good.......2007-06-20

Well done, I love it. Big Dog Daddy is an infectious little diddy, can't get it out of my head.

Music For Rednecks.......2007-06-20

No High Maintenance Woman Don't Want No Maintenance Man.

Well ... Duh!

(Or something like that ... I couldn't make it through the whole CD)

Who is Toby's audience? Is he trying to be the guy that all the janitors rock to? Can the janitors (maintenance men) even afford this redneck's cd?

Perhaps the "high maintenance woman" actually has standards. Imagine that! A woman who actually wants a man who has a real job! Wow!

Or perhaps the "high maintenance woman" refers to someone who needs a face-lift, butt-lift, breast augmentation, a regular botox injection, french nails done every other week, a tanning schedule, a waxing regimine, whatever ... it doesn't sound good. Why should some janitor want to bang some self involved (undoubtedly older) woman?

Is it the best he can do? OK, Probably.

Doesn't sound so good once you actually listen to and think about the lyrics, does it?

Then again it's a really good song if you're cleaning toilets in some dive bar in Tennessee and feeling sorry for yourself.

(Boo-Hooo-Hooo That Woman Don't Like Me! Stomp that roach! Replace that nasty urinal cake! Take that trash out! Clean that vomit off that floor!)

... Just saw Toby on the Colbert Report.

Maybe he really is just a simple boy from wherever the freak he is from and thats why he wore that idiot hat. Maybe he's trying to project the image that he's a "rebel" who doesn't care about "the media".

Or maybe he's just some clueless redneck with a vaguely agreeable voice who sings poorly written songs that appeal to people whio have no taste and no ability to think critically about the lyrics.

terrible music.......2007-06-19

I don't know what is wrong with people, this guy is terrible. How he sells albums is a mystery to me, must be Nascar fans who don't know any better. If you spent money on this album I fell sorry for you.

Pretty Good.......2007-06-17

Toby will have a few hits with this one, I especially liked T2.

AWESOME !!!!!.......2007-06-15

I thought last year's "White Trash With Money" was Toby's best album ever but this one clearly tops it. From the high energy songs to the ballads, this album should hit the top of the charts in the first week of sales.
I tend to prefer ballads and Toby Keith doesn't disappoint on this album. I love "Burnin' Moonlight", "I Know She Hung the Moon" and the very catchy "Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya". "Walk it off" is one of the saddest songs he's done. Sad, but beautiful. Terrific album and one of his best, if not his best.

Average customer rating:

Boring
I'm not into country, but this album is solid
Golden CD
Some Hearts-Carrie's first debut
Carrie is a star!!!

Some Hearts
Carrie Underwood
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

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Daughtry
Enjoy The Ride
Fireflies
Twice the Speed of Life
Me and My Gang

ASIN: B000BGR18W
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

Wasted
Don't Forget To Remember Me
Some Hearts
Jesus, Take The Wheel
The Night Before (Life Goes On)
Lessons Learned
Before He Cheats
Starts With Goodbye
I Just Can't Live A Lie
We're Young And Beautiful
That's Where It Is
Whenever You Remember
I Ain't In Checotah Anymore
Inside Your Heaven

Amazon.com

Would American Idol winner Carrie Underwood have landed a major-label recording contract without winning the hugely popular television contest? Probably. The big-voiced Oklahoman has the pipes, the look, the pedigree, and, most important, the emotional resonance to sustain a professional career. As an investment in her future, her label eschewed the easy path in putting out an album to take advantage of her publicity, going for a name producer, Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Lonestar), to handle half the tracks. It also solicited material from the same top songwriters (Diane Warren, Brett James, Troy Verges, Rivers Rutherford) who stock albums by Hill, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, and Wynonna. "Jesus, Take the Wheel," the hit first single, shows off the best of Underwood's power vocals, while the sexy rocker "We're Young and Beautiful" pulls her out of her ballad-heavy comfort zone, and her autobiographical "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" bolsters her authenticity. If the young performer oversings on occasion (the overwrought bonus track, "Inside Your Heaven"), and settles for too many generic themes, she still surprises in her ability to go head-to-head with country's reigning females. Will Underwood really survive to be a contender for the Martina throne? Let's just say that American Idol judges and voters picked the right contestant. If the posturing Bo Bice had won, rock stars would hardly be quaking in their boots. --Alanna Nash

More American Idol Winners

Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson

I Need an Angel, Ruben Studdard

Free Yourself, Fantasia Barrino

Customer Reviews:

Boring.......2007-06-19

She seems very cold and disconnected. I do like before he cheats so 3 stars for that song alone.

I'm not into country, but this album is solid.......2007-06-17

I'll preface my review by saying: I don't like country. Don't like the whole "I think my tractor's sexy", etc. Usually, I make fun of it with my friends...

but Carrie Underwood's album Some Hearts is worth every penny! Carrie's voice is powerful, sweet but not cloying, and is easy listening. The music is also poppy with a little country edge-not as much as you'd expect. BUY THIS ALBUM!

Golden CD.......2007-06-13

Ordered for my teen. She loves it, plays it incessantly. Ms. Underwood is on her way to the top.

Some Hearts-Carrie's first debut.......2007-06-12

Title: Some Hearts Year: 2005
Artist: Carrie Underwood Genre: Country

The song " Some Hearts" debuts on Carrie Underwood's first hit CD, "Some Hearts". The sizzling starlet from American Idol quotes "He better think before he cheats". Her first hit album has 14 songs including "Lessons Learned", "Inside Your Heaven" and "That's Where It Is".
Personally, I loved this CD and I'd give it four stars, or, as they say on the radio, two gold fingers up. My favorites were "That's Where It Is", "Jesus Take The Wheel" and "Before He Cheats".
I recommend this CD to everyone, even if they don't like country music or love songs, because I guarantee that they will like it.

Carrie is a star!!!.......2007-06-11

Carrie is a talented fresh-faced star that has a long career ahead of her. Her voice is beautiful and she sings some amazing deep and meaningful songs in this debut album! But, don't let the girl next door image fool you- she'll suprise you, and show her versatillity in songs like "Before he cheats" that differ from her Carrie-esque hits "Jesus take the wheel" and "some hearts" Beyond great music I think Carrie will also be a good role model for young girls!

Average customer rating:

Big & Rich - Simply Amazing
It's okay.....
Country Music for Everyone
Caught Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace...A Dilemma
A musical lecture, Big & Rich style

Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace
Big & Rich
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

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Big Dog Daddy
5th Gear
One of the Boys
Relentless
Pure BS

ASIN: B000OCXM6I
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Intro
Lost In This Moment
Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace
Faster Than Angels Fly
Eternity -- featuring John Legend
When The Devil Gets The Best Of Me
Radio Intro
Radio
You Never Stop Loving Somebody
High Five
Please Man -- featuring Wyclef Jean
You Shook Me All Night Long
Loud

Amazon.com

At the height of their 2004 "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" fame, Big & Rich's one lament was that radio didn't know what to do with them, even though they sold two million copies of their debut album, Horse of a Different Color. Their follow-up, 2005's Comin' to Your City, likewise failed to score a Top 10 single, but still went platinum. Now comes their third album, and their first single, "Lost in This Moment"--an overtly emotional ballad about getting hitched--is selling like Gatorade at a chili cook-off. Are Music City's most likeable lunatics playing it safe? Well, it sounds that way. And if that's a disappointment, given their initial rollicking (and much needed) assault on staid Nashville, there's more bad news. Big Kenny's loopy songs of peace, love, and hippified unity (especially the overblown "Eternity," featuring John Legend) now sound so familiar, replete with Pentecostal blathering ("Brothers and sisters..."), you can sing along the first time you hear them. The duo sequences the album like a vinyl disc of old, with a virtual A-side (ballads) and B-side (rockers). Not surprising, the B-side wins, even if "Radio" owes too much to the self-aggrandizing hullabaloo of Comin' to Your City and Wyclef Jean drops by to rap a few country clichés. It takes an awfully long time for this album to be fun, but it eventually does, with an AC/DC cover ("You Shook Me All Night Long") and a Brooks & Dunnish turbo-tonker ("Loud"). Fans of Big & Rich already understand that they take their spirituality as seriously as their sinning. But next time, here's hoping they spend more time in Saturday night, and less in Sunday morning. --Alanna Nash

Album Description

On their third album, Big & Rich bust down the doors of country music with new sounds, new energy and new audiences. The title Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace describes not only this collection but also Big & Rich themselves. Thank heaven for Big & Rich!

Customer Reviews:

Big & Rich - Simply Amazing.......2007-06-20

Not as hard hitting as "Horse" but a much more complete album than the sophomore release of "City", Big and Rich's third studio album release is a blend of soulful tunes that lean a little more towards pop than they do country twang. Regardless of what category or genre you place them in, I find this album enjoyable from the first song to the last.

The first track "Lost in the moment" is a great, semi sorrowful sounding tune that leads into the infectious second track "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace" which features some great dual vocal efforts from "Big" Kenny Alphin and John Rich. The third track "Faster than Angels fly" is a superbly written song that aptly starts out "...modern day Romeo and Juliet". The song centers on two young lovers struck down in a gang shooting and is very haunting and emotional. Later on they do a cover of the AC/DC hit "You shook me all night long" and although I was apprehensive of them covering this song, I am pleased with their performance of it. Big and Rich have the ability to cover a wide range of sounds, as you will find country, blues, pop and easy listening styles throughout this album. If I had not read the back cover I would have never guessed that John Legend performed with them on the song "Eternity". Wyclef Jean to me is an afterthought on the track "please man".

Included in this CD is a bonus DVD which features four music videos that are "lost in this moment", "between raising hell and amazing grace", "save a horse/ride a cowboy" and "coming to your city". Overall I have really enjoyed this new release from Big and Rich and look forward to more hits from them in the future.

It's okay............2007-06-13

This is way better than the last CD, but not as good as the first one. Definitely shouldn't be your first Big & Rich purchase, but definitely worth it if you're a fan.

Country Music for Everyone.......2007-06-13

Ever since their debut on the country music scene, Big & Rich have proven that there are no boundaries on great country music. With their third album, Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, Big Kenny and John Rich continue to showcase their remarkable ability to combine various musical elements and create a distinct country sound.
The first song on the CD, "Lost in the Moment", is a beautiful love song that is written from the point of view of a man who is about to be married. John Rich, along with frequent co-writer Rodney Clawson and fellow country singer Keith Anderson wrote it. The second song on the CD, "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace", is a song that basically describes the country duo. It was co-written by Big Kenny, and it tells the story of how they can have fun and get a little crazy sometimes, but they always return to what's important in life.
"Faster than Angels Fly" could quite possibly be the best song on the album. It was not written by either member of Big & Rich, but it is a moving love story of a young couple who, as it was put in the song, lived out the story of Romeo and Juliet. The lyrics, the way they sing, and the music accompanying their voices makes for an excellent song. The next song, "Eternity", combines the duo's signature music style, along with Big Kenny's unrivaled songwriting and a special guest performer, John Legend. It is a rather upbeat love song about spending forever with the one you love. "When the Devil Gets the Best of Me" is a song that portrays a man who tries to correct his behavior when he does wrong, but has a hard time doing so. The song "Radio", which John Rich and Big Kenny helped to write, is a classic Big & Rich song that's great to turn up and sing along to. "You Never Stop Lovin' Somebody" is another song the duo co-wrote. The idea of the song is that you never stop loving somebody, even if the somebody who you love is new.
The last four tracks on the CD are true Big & Rich songs. "High Five" is a song that only they could formulate. It's a song about being free and dreaming anything you want to. "Please Man" is inevitably a one-of-a kind song that combines country music with rap music. Exceptional songwriter John Rich, along with Wyclef Jean (also the song's guest star) wrote it together. It's another classic Big & Rich tune, as is the next track, "You Shook Me All Night Long." Although not written by either member of the duo, it fits Big & Rich perfectly. The best way to describe it would be as a fun love song. The final song on the album is "Loud." John Rich and Big Kenny did not write this either, but it's a great party song that is awesome to sing along to.
As with their previous projects, Big and Rich always stay true to the music they love. They know what the fans will like and they always deliver a wonderful album every time. However, this time they really did a remarkable job. It just might be their best album ever!

Caught Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace...A Dilemma.......2007-06-11

I have listened to this CD better than ten times...The simple message is "life"..Possibly every one of us has experienced the contrasting emotions expressed through the lyrics and music of each song...Philosophically, the lyrics deliver the sermon whether we want to hear it or not. Mood swings, introspection, conflict, mystic attraction to the forbidden...They are all there, brothers and sisters. I am haunted by the sound and lyrics of my favorite on the album,"Faster Than Angels Fly"...Can remember the days when I turned up the speakers and listened to the "Radio"...quite fortunate I didn't get picked up for speeding or picked up off the concrete,and if you still love the sound of the "Freak Parade"..."Loud" should get you rockin'...When I heard the first album I said, "This album is either going to sink or swim"...Unquestionably, there are some real "Hits" on this album if they are released as such...Only time will tell.

A musical lecture, Big & Rich style.......2007-06-11

Big & Rich are bound to spark controversy. In a conservative, restricted country music environment, they are liberal-minded outlaws, testing the limits of "progressive" music. Their records consistently show that there are no boundaries between music genres; country and rap are essentially the same, when you get right down to it. This is an attitude that is almost blasphemous in the country music world.

Yet Big & Rich don't let the criticism stop them, and they make albums of music--the fact that it's labelled "country" means absolutely nothing. BETWEEN HELL AND AMAZING GRACE is divided into two parts, sides A and B. Side A is slow, driven by ballads and emotion; it features tunes such as the tender "Lost in This Moment," the beautiful "Faster Than Angels Fly," the reflective title track and "When the Devil Gets The Best of Me;" and Big Kenny's elegant "Eternity." Side B is rockin, features odes to Aerosmith and AC/DC (two hard rock bands that country fans usually identify with; these same "country fans" criticize B&R for not being country...but we'll save the hypocrisy lecture for later). Tunes on Side B include a country shuffle version of AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long;" the radio-ready but still enjoyable "You Never Stop Loving Somebody;" the autobiographical "Loud" and "Radio;" the reggae-esque "Please Man;" and the whimsical "High Five."

John Legend and Wyclef Jean make enjoyable cameos, but their presence really isn't necessary; Big & Rich get their point of music across very well on their own. That point is this: that music is one artistic entity. Call it rock, call it rap, call it jazz, or call it country if you dare--music is music, and all of it is enjoyable. BETWEEN HELL AND AMAZING GRACE is the third installment of Big & Rich's lecture "Why All Music Matters." Pull up a seat and take a listen. You just might learn something.

Average customer rating:

Alt-country emo??
Still the Angel of Ensanguined Love
West
Continuing in the right direction
Lame

West
Lucinda Williams
Manufacturer: Lost Highway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Not Too Late
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A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection

ASIN: B000LXHGFI
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

Are You Alright?
Mama You Sweet
Learning How To Live
Fancy Funeral
Unsuffer Me
Everything Has Changed
Come On
Where Is My Love?
Rescue
What If
Wrap My Head Around That
Words
West

Amazon.com

Though the arrangements stray from Lucinda Williams's motherlode blend of blues, country, and folk, West may well be her best album. It is easily her most musically adventurous, and often her most lyrically inspired. Williams's singing has never sounded better, from the aching tenderness of "Where Is My Love?" to the ravaged catharsis of "Unsuffer Me." New York producer Hal Willner, who has worked with artists such as Marianne Faithful and Lou Reed, enlists the support of eclectic progressives like guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Bob Burger, and violinist Jenny Scheinman, along with harmonies from the Jayhawks' Gary Louris, to weave a subtly rich sonic tapestry. Much of the material was inspired by the death of Williams's beloved mother ("Mama You Sweet," "Fancy Funeral") and the bitter breakup of a relationship (the jagged-edged emasculation of "Come On," the repetitive incantation of "Wrap My Head Around That"), though "Are You Alright?," "Learning How to Live," and "Everything Has Changed" could reflect the aftermath of both. Other highlights include "Rescue," with a languid subtlety and ambient pulse reminiscent of Beth Orton, and the dreamy, wistful title track. Where Williams's music has long cut close to the bone, the best of West slices right through it. --Don McLeese

Lucinda Wiliams Photos

More Lucinda Williams

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
World Without Tears
Essence

Customer Reviews:

Alt-country emo??.......2007-06-18

No, really--I love Lucinda Williams. I've liked her earlier albums and I like her voice; it's a nice change in a music genre that often seems to idealize baby-voiced vocalists like Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, and Iris DeMent (all of whom are fine singers, of course, but it's unusual to hear a female singer with Williams' deep, husky, voice).

I found this album musically monotonous. Really monotonous. Like, sleep-inducing. I could chalk that up to personal taste and forgive it if more of the songs had lyrics that were interesting or meaningful beyond fairly standard pop fare. Too many of these, as much as I hate to think it, were warmed-over rhymes and old themes with no new insight.

Get Car Wheels instead.

Still the Angel of Ensanguined Love.......2007-06-09

I bought this CD a week ago, and yes, Lucinda Williams is still the greatest living songwriter (though I might say she possibly currently shares that honor with Ryan Adams). The most visceral portrayal of heartbreak in verse and song ever, ever...Lucinda you are still the angel of ensanguined love.

West.......2007-06-07

Notwithstanding the hit-making assembly line of Nashville, country music will always bring me back to the idea of wandering, a sense of nomadic drift brought about by pain, heartbreak and loss. The tradition dates back nearly a century to the Carter Family, whose songs may sound dated but whose lyrics of leaving heartache to wander away from home and into the grave ring surprisingly true today. After all, our emotions and our natural reactions to them have stood the test of time, even as society has evolved tremendously since the Carter Family first laid down their music on wax.

To look at Lucinda Williams on the cover of West is to see a woman who has lived through enough pain for three people, as she turns her back on the world with a frustrated yet resigned sigh. The country singer/songwriter has spent the last year of her life wandering in the most literal sense, making a pilgrimage to Los Angeles in response to her mother's death and a turbulent relationship that likely ended with lots of tears and thrown kitchenware. Like it or not, Williams' first studio offering in four years is inspired by exactly those two things and little more. Suffice to say that West is a monumental downer--the starkest and bleakest album in a line of stark, bleak albums that began with Essence in 2001.

It's an approach that leaves West somewhat flat and one-dimensional when viewed from a distance, but for Williams, God is--and has always been--in the details. Far from being the instrumental knockout that was 1998's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, West has the studio musicians wisely stepping back to plant the focus squarely on Williams, whose torchy, weathered voice can make even trite lyrics like "The days ahead will never be the same / for you I would have changed my name" quake with sorrow. "Unsuffer Me," in which Williams prays for someone to relieve her of years of abuse, is downright painful to hear, not necessarily because of what she sings, but because she sings it in repetitive vocal droops that evoke consecutive blows to the head in slow motion. Quiet is the new loud here; the final track, "West," is simultaneously simmering and shattering, making great use of empty space that mimics the void upon which she now gazes.

Williams remains the talented songwriter she's always been, but she's constrained a bit by the limitations of West's subject matter. There are only so many ways one can describe a breakup. "Everything has changed / Everything has changed," she sings on "Everything Has Changed." Well, yeah. Williams also has trouble pulling off anger in an album that has every right to be fraught with it. She only takes a few stabs, preferring instead to stay esconsed in her own gloomy universe, but all fall short. Consider "Come On," the album's only bona-fide rocker, whose rough electric guitars, crashing drums and high-pitched violin fizzle when they should explode, and whose weak double entendres ("You didn't even make me...come on!") would elicit snickers from anyone who's ever heard Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville.

While "Come On" has proven to be a consistent turkey in the eyes of the critics, the best song here, "Words," has the misfortune of landing in the penultimate slot where it's guaranteed to be passed over. For a precious brief moment, "Words" switches things up; the song is about mustering strength, not accepting renunciation ("My words enjoy the feel of the paper/ better than mingling with your consonants/ once they get going, they never waver/ and they slip in between your ifs, ands, and buts"), and the guitars and drums percolate plaintively, even hopefully. But this isn't an uplifting album by any stretch of the imagination; it's a breakup record if ever there were one, a record for those down-in-the-mouth moments before you can even begin to think about taking the next step. Clearly, Williams isn't ready for that yet.

All of this prompts the question: Can we really fault her for churning out such an oppressively dreary record? Far be it from me to invalidate anyone's feelings, and Williams convinces us of her depressive state through the honesty of her lyrics and her sobering, somber arrangements. Yet, perhaps the album's release was a bit premature. Williams' best friend and worst enemy has always been her own staunch perfectionism; there might be a several-year gap between her albums, but until now, the wait has been entirely worth it. She took three full years just to record Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, but her adherence to the integrity of the final product made it one of country music's contemporary watersheds. Her Live at the Fillmore album in 2005 bought her enough time so that she could have waited one or two more years to release something, possibly during her reemergence from the doldrums. But now we have West, and a bummer is a bummer, especially for those who don't have the time, energy or desire to meet Williams halfway.

Continuing in the right direction.......2007-06-07

Although Lucinda Williams has been doing her thing for almost thirty years, it seems that she didn't really get a WHOLE lot of attention until she released Car Wheels on a Gravel Road in 1998. That album was so influential that it seems that all of her albums after that point will be compared to it, which might account for all the negative reviews for her latest album, West.

Actually, now that I think about it, this is another one of those cases where I looked at the one-star reviews and now I'm wondering if those are the kind of reviewers that think one star and five stars are the only options. But if this is your first Lucinda Williams album, I suggest you get educated on some of her earlier material first. She doesn't sound different or anything, but, well, Lucinda is another one of those singers that makes great songs yet she doesn't have a great voice, so if you're not a fan of hers, this album might put you to sleep. But it really IS very accessible.

Lucinda composed this album following the death of her mother, which is probably why most of the songs are mellow. They don't drown into each other though, as I can easily pick up highlights like "Are You Alright", "Learning How to Live" and the title track. And the songs about her mother are poignant yet exceptional, as shown in "Mama You Sweet" and especially "Fancy Funeral". But my favorite song would probably have to be "Words".

While I can do without "Come On" and the nine-minute spoken word "Wrap My Head Around That", the rest of the album is quality Lucinda. It might not be her best album, but it's far above-average, so if you want to find exceptional music, go west.

Anthony Rupert

Lame .......2007-06-04

Terribly repetitious, terribly repetitious, terribly repetitious, te..... well, you get the idea. Lucinda used to write great songs, detailed stories that were sung with achingly clear feeling. I have to confess that I got suckered on this one, I bought the Lucinda brand blindly. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was such a great album, so full of strong guitar licks, meaningful lyrics, passion. Each song was unique, special. On West, you can hardly tell one song from the other. It all drones into one long background tune fit for the dentist's office. I give it one star for the title cut West, and maybe for Fancy Funeral, but also because there does not seem to be a clear zero-star rating available. Sorry Lucinda, give it it it another another another try try try please. Maybe take the songs on the road first, see what sort of audience reaction you get (or not) before releasing. Or spend a few days with John Prine, get some pointers.

Average customer rating:

Another winner
chicks?
The best!
F.U.T.K.
Great CD

Taking The Long Way
Dixie Chicks
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Home
All the Roadrunning
Not Too Late
Wide Open Spaces
Continuum

ASIN: B000F7MG4G
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Tracks:

The Long Way Around
Easy Silence
Not Ready To Make Nice
Everybody Knows
Bitter End
Lullaby
Lubbock Or Leave It
Silent House
Favorite Year
Voice Inside My Head
I Like It
Baby Hold On
So Hard
I Hope

Amazon.com

Nothing changes folks like babies and war, and since the release of their last album, 2002's Home, the Dixie Chicks have been forever altered by both. If that album showcased the trio as precocious young adults, Taking the Long Way finds them sobered and matured, and in a grown-up state of mind. Produced by the celebrated Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers), who saw the Chicks as "a great rock act making a country album, not a country act making a rock album," their new record impresses both as beautiful sonic tapestry (peppered with myriad Beatlesque hallmarks) and forthright yet vulnerable portrait of three women shaken by the personal and political events of the past few years. As they make clear in the defiant "Not Ready to Make Nice," they still smart over the backlash from their 2003 Bushwhacking. But as they assert on the equally autobiographical "The Long Way Around," they could never "kiss all the asses that they told me to" and just follow others aimlessly--and silently--through life. This means that the Chicks are simultaneously prideful and scornful of celebrity ("Everybody Knows"), and that as new mothers they increasingly treasure the refuge they find in life with their families, out of the spotlight ("Easy Silence," "Lullaby," "Baby Hold On"). The push and pull of both passions drive this record, which also touches on the personal issues of infertility (with which sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison both dealt) and Alzheimer's (from which Natalie Maines's grandmother suffers). The trio crafted all 14 cuts with the help of such writers as Sheryl Crow, Gary Louris, Mike Campbell, and Keb' Mo', laying out their lives as honestly and intimately as they might in their diaries. For that reason, 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. By the last cut, the R&B/gospel offering "I Hope," the Chicks have chronicled their journey with as much spirituality as spunk, their pain deeply ingrained in their protests. --Alanna Nash

Description

With Taking The Long Way, one of the most anticipated albums in recent years, the Dixie Chicks are putting themselves out there like never before. For the first time, every one of the disc's fourteen songs are co-written by the Chicks themselves, exploring themes both deeply private and resoundingly political. Collaborating with legendary producer Rick Rubin (who has worked with everyone from Johnny Cash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from Run DMC to Neil Diamond), the biggest-selling female band in history has truly pushed themselves to new heights both as writers and as performers.

"Everything felt more personal this time," says Maines. "I go back to songs we've done in the past and there's just more maturity, depth, intelligence on these. They just feel more grown-up." Inspired by such classic rock artists as the Eagles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the Mamas and the Papas, Taking The Long Way adds a sweeping, Southern California vibe to the Chicks' down-home intimacy. That ambition is matched with lyrics addressing everything from small-town narrow-mindedness ("Lubbock or Leave It") to the psychology of celebrity ("Everybody Knows"). "This album was about finding a balance in the different aspects of our lives," says Emily Robison, "but there's something thematic there, too--it's really about being bold."

Dixie Pics

Dixie Discs

Home

Wide Open Spaces

Fly

Top of the World Tour (Live CD)

Top of the World Tour (DVD)

An Evening with the Dixie Chicks (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

Another winner.......2007-06-11

Bought this for my wife. She loves it. I support the Chicks in all they do. We loved their documentary. Great, catchy music. I like how their style evolves.

chicks?.......2007-06-02

i will ALWAYS love the chicks - but this cd took a little getting use to. definitely a new style. a little dark. came to love it!

The best!.......2007-06-01

I have been listening to this CD for over a year now and it just gets better and better. I love every song on it.

F.U.T.K........2007-05-31

It's sad that a girl country band is the only band speaking up about the war. What is happening to America when we can let one retarded person make the decision to continue a pointless war and we are not allowed to say anything or have an opinion? My friends, this is called Freedom Of Speech. I watched Shut Up and Sing and I've never seen so many stupid redneck conservative hillbillies in one film. My favorite part was the trailer trash mom telling her 3 year old to say "screw the dixie chicks." Nice. Political issues aside, I think this is a solid album. Not Ready To Make Nice still gives me chills, it's such an honest song not heard in todays commercial overproduced garbage. Go chicks... you're the voice of America! Oh yeah, I almost forgot... FUTK!!!

Great CD.......2007-05-28

Truthfully I had never heard of the Dixie Chicks until country music fans decided to get ignorant on the news burning CD's and threatening lives about a simple anti-Bush opinion. It made me take notice of the group and I'm so glad it did. What fantastic music! I immediately went out and bought their CD's.

This CD seems like a mix of country and rock and it's all together well done. Each song seems so personal and filled with their life. I will admit my favorite is 'Not Ready to Make Nice' not just because of the sc*ew you attitude but the pain they clearly felt about the situation and how they handled it with...as they say in country...true grit.

Album Review:

Album Review

Album Review

Home	Wide Open Spaces	Fly
Top of the World Tour (Live CD)	Top of the World Tour (DVD)	An Evening with the Dixie Chicks (DVD)