Track Listing

1. Long Time Gone
2. Landslide
3. Travelin' Soldier
4. Truth No. 2
5. White Trash Wedding
6. A Home
7. More Love
8. I Believe In Love
9. Tortured, Tangled Hearts
10. Lil' Jack Slade
11. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
12. Top Of The World
13. Landslide (The Sheryl Crow Remix)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1984 in Music
• Released on: 2003-03-03
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
On Home--which they coproduced with Lloyd Maines, the father of lead singer Natalie--the Dixie Chicks strip off the star-making gloss of Nashville and get down to the meat of the matter, turning out an acoustic record that gives a big Texas howdy to bluegrass. But that's only the framework they use to salute all their influences, from the raggedy rock of Little Feat (on Darrell Scott's irresistible "Long Time Gone") to the pained ballads of Stevie Nicks (covering her melancholy "Landslide") to the confessional Texas singer-songwriters who straddle the country-folk line (Patty Griffin, Bruce Robison). Maines's raw, irrepressible soprano remains a thing of wonder, as do the threesome's exquisite harmonies, which seem tighter and more organic than ever before. Still, the jaw-dropping thrills come from the passionate and masterful picking of Emily Robison on banjo, bluegrass guitarist Bryan Sutton and Adam Steffey, whose fluid mandolin does Bill Monroe proud. Home, the Chicks' first release on their own record label, puts the front porch back into mainstream music, whatever the genre. And not a minute too soon. --Alanna Nash

CD Description
'Home' is the Dixie Chicks sixth album and their third on amajor label. It includes a cover of the Stevie Nicks song 'Landslide' but is in no way a 'crossover' attempt, it barelyfeatures the electric guitar, favouring the more traditional fiddles and banjos of bluegrass.

Customer Reviews

A Masterpiece. 5 Stars.
The Dixie Chicks proved with their first two major release albums, and combined sales of 22 million, that they are genuine musicians. They can play like no other country band, and can harmonise flawlessly. With this, their 3rd major release in 2002, the Dixie Chicks have produced a stellar piece of art. Their best album yet, I'm sure it will go down in history as one of the best albums ever recorded.

`Home' is straight forward traditional country in arrangement - never including an electric guitar or bass: everything is acoustic, and brought to life through amazing musicianship. The themes the songs tackle range from a soldier leaving for Vietnam, right through to a white-trash couple `who can't afford no ring.' Produced by The Chicks, and Maine's father, you can sense the genuine nature of this project. The Chicks grew up with this kind of music, they know it inside out. Material is drawn from Patty Griffin, Stevie Nicks and Bruce Robison among others; and the treatment these songs receive are nothing short of remarkable. Bryan Sutton and Adam Steffey guest as musicians, setting the standard to a new level.

The set kicks off with `Long Time Gone'. A song of leaving home - yearning for a better, more exciting life; but ultimately finding out that the world isn't as great as people make it out to be, and that you'll end up back at home. Rich lyrically, the song is sassy and possesses a killer melody. The picking is phenomenal - Emily's banjo drawing your ear constantly. Maine's vocal is loaded with conviction, and is more powerful than ever. Martie's fiddle shines between chorus and verse, tickling the melody mostly. The number really sets the bar high for the rest of the album, and hit #2 on the Country Charts when released as the lead single. `Landslide', the Nicks cover, followed the same path, peaking at #2 when released as the second single. Laden with beautiful bluegrass flow, the track talks of self discovery and acceptance. The arrangement just can't be faulted. The vocals are inspired - Maines' ability to hold those notes with a flawless vibrato is amazing.

`Travelin' Soldier' is arguably the Dixie Chicks' best song ever recorded. Bruce Robison penned, the story follows a young Vietnam Soldier going off to war, but before leaving, falling in love with a waitress who promises her heart to him. The affair is busting with heartache and melancholy: the Chicks' vocals tugging at the heartstrings. The arrangement is again perfect: Martie's fiddle setting the scene perfectly. The percussion used is luscious, and the length of the track essential. Inspired. This track did hit #1 on the Country Charts, and was set to be the Chicks' biggest song ever, until of course the Bush Controversies kicked off. It's a shame we didn't get to see how far this song could have gone, but its musical genius will live on within this album.

`Truth No.2' is a Patty Griffin pen, and takes the Chicks back to the spunky, yet heavy, concepts they mastered within their first 2 albums. A song that has many levels, it talks of ultimately an abusive lover, who can't handle the truth. The production is riveting - the picking setting off the spunk in an unusual, but stunning way. Maines' vocal is again full of conviction, and the girls' voices blend so distinctively. `White Trash Wedding' is hillbilly deluxe...and it's fantastic. A compelling piece of music, it is largely instrumental. The picking here is beyond belief. At the tempo, it is breathtaking. Near the end, you'll be left speechless, as Martie's fiddle, Emily's banjo and Steffey's mandolin go into nigh battle, and finish with a bang.

`Home' is a reflective, poignant moment on the record. The steel guitar delivered is beautiful, and the harmonies succulent. The song talks of the heartbreak the narrator feels, as they live in a house that could have been so much more than just a house- it could have been a home. Of course, this goes beyond the concrete, and can be interpreted many ways, but one thing remains constant- the narrator is haunted by `what could have been'. Outstanding. `More Love' is a song of society, delivered with class and compassion. With a withheld, spacious arrangement, the song tackles the conventions we call everyday life, and asks what could be done to better ourselves. The answer is of course, to share more love.

`I Believe In Love' is another poignant moment. It tackles the issue of maintaining the self, whilst seeking life's ultimate goal - love. With touching imagery, "Silence stared me in the face/and I finally heard its voice", the issue is tackled delicately - the arrangement reflecting the lyrics immaculately. Following tracks 6 & 7, this track really draws a sense of spirituality and something of the philosophical nature from the listener: it tunes you into a way of life, of thinking. The arrangements, the playing, the vocals, the lyrics - together they are mightily powerful.

The tempo is then picked back up by `Tortured, Tangled Hearts'. Another classic Chicks number: a spunky approach to a heavy subject. The lyrics are loaded with rhyming couplets, stark imagery and original mix up's of cliché, the theme is accompanied by master picking - and Martie's fiddle turns into a dynamo kiss-off mode. `Lil' Jack Slade' is the bluegrass instrumental on the album - again, just breathtaking. Martie's fiddle picking up the tempo and feeling like the life of the party, whilst Emily's banjo, Steffey's mandolin and Sutton's acoustic guitar get down to some serious, straight-talking business.

`Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)' is a touching ballad. With Emmylou Harris on background vocals, the song is written from the perspective of a father who doesn't live with his son. It's a song for his son, telling him how much he loves for him, and cares for him, and is his version of a bedtime story. The lyrics are truly moving - the arrangement stirring the emotions up further. An emotive affair. `Top of the World' closes out the set. An epic, 6 minute take on the Patty Griffin pen, the arrangement builds from a spacious, simple mandolin strum to an orchestrated and emotional ending. The song is narrated by a man who has passed on, reflecting upon his life, and the things he didn't do. The regret that the lyrics are soaked with are intriguing, and challenges the conventions of a generation of men. The man regrets oppressing his wife - for stopping her being free, for not showing her his true self. It's a really compelling story. The Chicks' vocals are as good as they were from the beginning and throughout - perfectly blended, with Maines' soaring effortlessly.

This album is sheer genius from beginning to end. Its authentic nature is handled by The Chicks in a truly original and individual fashion, and is totally enthralling. Every single melody has so many dimensions to it, and every single lyric so much depth. The musicality displayed by the trio is bettered by no other group I've ever heard in country music, and in fact, any group I've ever heard. It's honest, genuine and most of all, world class quality. This album is not only one of the best of the 21st century, but one of the best of all time.

5 Stars.

Home is where the heart is....
Bluegrass is back, and quite frankly who cares if the chicks are cashing in on that, or returning to it through an artistic decision. It's fantastic, and doesn't matter if they did it to spin some bucks, fair play to them if they did! The wrangling with Sony had all but robbed us off the talented trio for 2 years, and it's great to see them back.
The opening track 'Long time gone' is instantly familiar and along with 'White trash wedding' show that rebellious and irreverent side of the Dixie chicks we all know and love. A lot of the tracks on this album are classic Chicks, but there's a lot of different ground here too. I was blown away by 'Top of the world', from it's start and breaks, with breathtaking vocals from Natalie Maines, to it's unexpected and powerful climax where the strings come in and the song stops you in whatever you happen to be doing. You just listen.
I don't feel the need to criticise the girls for not penning most of the tracks themselves, they've chosen some very very good material here and it's a long tradition in country music to have someone else write for you. No one can deny the muscial talent of these three, and if it's used to showcase great songs, then the name on the credit doesn't matter.
It's also good to see the mandolin genius of Chris Thile (of Nickelcreek) pop up in a couple of tracks, his style is instantly recognisable and made me smile anyway. :-)

All in all, a classic progression in true sassy chick style!

Home: a musically rich and accomplished piece of work.
One of the characteristics of the Dixie Chick's "Home" which makes it a great album is how musically rich it sounds. Gone are the electric guitars and drums which featured in their two previous albums. The sounds of the banjo (naturally, as this is Emily Robison's instrument), the mandolin, the acoustic guitar and the papoose pepper this album giving it a more folky and rootsy feel. The instumental break in "More Love" where Martie Maguire's fiddle solo plays is sublime and beautiful. In addition there are more bluegrass tracks than their other albums; I counted five including an intrumental ("Lil' Jack Slade") which will please those who prefer their country music less pop-orientated.
The songs themselves add depth to "Home." The use of quality song writers such as Patty Griffin, Bruce Robison and the Chicks themselves show. As well songs about subjects usually tackled in country songs (eg the fickleness of young love in "Tortured, Tangled Hearts"), there is a soothing lullaby in "Godspeed" and an old fashioned telling of a story done in song. This particular song, "Travellin' Soldier", one of my favourite tracks is about a young man who goes off to fight in the Vietnam War and never returns. It manages to be poignant and memorable through its delivery: listen the harmony vocals conveying the sadness of the story teller and the deliberate slowing down of the song when the young man's fate is realised. The song slowly fades with the an accordion playing and the beating of a military drum - very reflective.
The highlight of "Home" is "Top of the World" which in my view is an extraordinary song. It's about a man who has died recently (the album is not all doom and gloom!) and looks back at his life ruefully. It is sung, interestingly enough, from his own perspective by the lead vocalist Natalie Maines. This melancholic song climaxes with a stirring outro with a string arrangement and Natalie's amazing vocals, pleading sorrow and regret. I am always moved when I listen to it.
To elaborate on an earlier point, Natalie Maines has an incredible voice. It is both distinguishable and excellent whether she chooses to be soft and subtle for something like the lullaby "Godspeed" or loud and raucous for the energetic bluegrass number "White Trash Wedding." Emily and Martie provide great harmonies to back up Natalie too.
It is safe to assume that every Dixie Chicks fan owns a copy of this album. To those who may want to open their ears to country music or even want to seek an alternative to the pop music that is saturating the charts, I would strongly recommend "Home" as this is an accomplished piece of work that contains great songs, excellent vocals and one that is musically rich.