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: #6750 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

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.

If you can't afford no ring...buy this instead.
Wow. The Dixie Chicks, what is there to say. I used to hate country until the dixie chicks came along. How can you ignore the poignant beauty of such music? How can you dismiss the girls and their folky range of hits? Three Western beauties, Natalie - the sultry vocalist, Martie - the brilliant violinist
and Emily: the groovy guitarist. What more could you want? This album, also coincidentally happens to be one of Michelle Branch's faves. Well, who can ignore that? There isnt a single disappointment on here. The best tracks in my opinion vary from the beautiful 'Landslide' to the folky trashy 'White Trash Wedding' to the soulful lullaby blues of 'Godspeed' and 'Top Of the World'. Natalie's voice is superb, brilliant, and the three of them deserve all the luck in the world. A perfect remedy to those hard days at work. Hear it. Buy it. Love it.