New Chicks album [Archive]

skcin

03-21-2006, 01:00 PM

Sounds very cool - Rick Rubin, some of the Heartbreakers, and they co-wrote all of the tunes this time.

http://www.dixiechicks.com/press_release.asp

DIXIE CHICKS SLATED TO RELEASE
HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED FOURTH ALBUM
TAKING THE LONG WAY
ON MAY 23, 2006

All Fourteen Tracks Co-Written by the Dixie Chicks
and Produced by Rick Rubin

New York, NY – March 10, 2006 – Superstars, renegades, innovators, heroes, villains, and moms - over almost a decade, the Dixie Chicks have grown from a band into a phenomenon. Now more than ever, the eyes of the world are on them, and with TAKING THE LONG WAY, they come out swinging, surpassing the pressures and expectations history has placed upon them. The nine time Grammy-Award winning Sony Recording artists will release this highly-anticipated fourth album (Open Wide/Columbia/Sony BMG) on May 23, 2006.

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 Natalie 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."

Rubin assembled a band including Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, session hero Larry Knechtel, and Heartbreakers Benmont Tench and Mike Campbell, and matched the Chicks with co-writers including Dan Wilson (who wound up collaborating on six of TAKING THE LONG WAY's songs), Pete Yorn, and Gary Louris of the Jayhawks.

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").

Not just "big for a country band" or "big for a big female band," the Dixie Chicks are a multi-platinum selling act in North America, Europe and Australia as well as one of a mere handful of acts with multiple albums achieving "diamond" status (meaning sales over 10 million copies) - both WIDE OPEN SPACES (1998) and FLY (1999) hit that stratospheric landmark - and have won nine Grammy awards. Their on-stage reputation has helped them sell over $100 million worth of concert tickets, and outspoken songs like "Goodbye, Earl" made it clear that this power trio played by nobody's rules.

And that was all before Natalie Maines's comments about a fellow Texan, President George W. Bush, during a London appearance in March, 2003 really put the Dixie Chicks in the headlines. The resultant uproar - complete with boycotts and death threats - is the focus of TAKING THE LONG WAY's defiant first track, "Not Ready to Make Nice." "The stakes were definitely higher on that song," says Robison. "We knew it was special because it was so autobiographical, and we had to get it right. And once we had that song done, it freed us up to do the rest of the album without that burden."

The results cover an impressive range of territory. "Silent House" examines the emotions that come from watching an older relative struggle with Alzheimer's. "It's So Hard When It Doesn't Come Easy" addresses infertility, an issue that both Robison and Maguire have faced. The Chicks debuted the gospel-inflected "I Hope," co-written with Keb' Mo, during last year's telethon benefiting the victims of Hurricane Katrina; the album version features a blistering guitar solo by John Mayer.

"This album was total therapy," says Natalie Maines. "I'm way more at peace now. Writing these songs and saying everything we had to say makes it possible to move on."

Details are forthcoming on a worldwide Dixie Chicks concert tour that will kick-off this summer.

estranged4life

03-21-2006, 01:09 PM

ShangriLaTroubl

03-21-2006, 01:13 PM

You can hear the new single at www.dixiechicks.com

It plays as the page loads, in its entirety. I think the first single sounds pretty good. Seems like it will be a great album.

Chris

bikerchic

03-21-2006, 01:19 PM

I love the Dixie Chicks. There, I said it. :p

JazmenFlowers

03-21-2006, 01:19 PM

ehhh, never been a huge fan of this group tho I do think they are talented and have a few really good songs that I like, but Natalie just GRATES on my nerves. too much, too loud, too obnoxious for me, but that being said, I hope this album/tour does well - and I'm sure their fans are excited

skcin

03-21-2006, 01:20 PM

I love them too. Not a huge fan of their Landslide though.

bikerchic

03-21-2006, 01:31 PM

but that being said, I hope this album/tour does well - and I'm sure their fans are excited
I really hope it does well too! They were treated so unfairly for the Bush comment. This is almost like a "come back".

I love them too. Not a huge fan of their Landslide though.

I like their Landslide. I guess, if it's good enough for Mick, it's good enough for me. :rolleyes:

heyjupiter678

03-21-2006, 01:48 PM

I love them too. Not a huge fan of their Landslide though. Me either. I can't even listen to it. I do like the Dixie Chicks, though, and I'm looking forward to this album.

cliffdweller

03-21-2006, 02:46 PM

I think some of the song inspirations are a bit odd---infertility and Alzheimer's? Aside from that, the album looks promising. Rick Rubin is fantastic and it looks like the Chicks have some great musicians working with them on the album. I'm intrigued to say the least.

Pisces Queen

03-21-2006, 04:56 PM

I really like the first single ~ can't wait to hear the album.

trackaghost

03-21-2006, 05:05 PM

but why does Rick Rubin get another "production" credit when he almost always sits on a couch in the studio and gives his opinion (He rarely turns the knobs these days...Metallica come attest to that since they are working with Rick Rubin on their followup to "St.Anger"...Minus the therapist.)

None-the-less it should be worth a listen to see if they have indeed growed musical.

Did you read the sleeve notes on the Neil Diamond album? Rubin was really tough on Diamond, listening to his songs, telling him if he thought they were crap, making him go back and rewrite stuff and improve stuff over and over again, until he was satisfied and thought they were good enough. Obviously Rubin brought in a whole heap of friends this time to help get the sound he wanted with the Dixie Chicks. Whatever he does, it seems to work.
I do find it weird though, that after so many years working in the business as musicians the Dixie Chicks aren't capable of writing 10 or 12 songs all by themselves. I imagine it's pretty easy to come up with something good when you have the likes of Mike Campbell, Pete Yorn and Gary Louris (one of my favourite ever songwriters) working with you.
Anyway this should be interesting.

Since Rubin has worked with both Tom Petty and Natalie Maines now, both friends of Stevie, I hope something clicks in her mind and she finally realises her next record should be with him. I'm not sure she's smart enough to take his constructive criticism though. I mean kudos to Neil Diamond, a long established, well respected and hugely successful songwriter, for letting Rubin push him around like that, because the finished product is spectacular, the best thing Neil has done in years. Stevie, on the other hand, definitely does not like to be told what to do, in terms of her songwriting I think.

DavidMn

03-21-2006, 05:50 PM

Good. I'm glad to hear they're writing their own material.:)

ontheEdgeof17

03-21-2006, 05:52 PM

Good. I'm glad to hear they're writing their own material.:)

They always have :shrug: Not all of their songs....but a huge chunk of them.

DavidMn

03-21-2006, 05:58 PM

They always have :shrug: Not all of their songs....but a huge chunk of them.I didnt know that. I was under the impression that most country artists had others write their songs. But thank you for enlightening me.:)

hayley

03-21-2006, 06:16 PM

I didnt know that. I was under the impression that most country artists had others write their songs. But thank you for enlightening me.:)
They're not like most country artists, at all. The majority of the songs that they haven't written on their albums were by Patty Griffin. I'm sure they had plenty of their own material to use, but loved her songs so much (rightfully so) that they used them instead.

I am so pumped for their new album. I'm an indie rock girl at heart, but I love the Dixie Chicks.

Beachwood Mac

03-21-2006, 06:21 PM

I didn't start out a fan but once I saw them live on the Lilith Fair tour I was hooked. They are so energetic live and a refreshing change from the studio polished artists that can't recreate their sound on stage.

stargazer99

03-21-2006, 06:25 PM

I like their Landslide. I guess, if it's good enough for Mick, it's good enough for me. :rolleyes:

I'm not a huge fan of country music, so I don't go out of my way to listen to them. But I do like their version of Landslide. (I've been afraid to admit that here as well! :laugh: )

estranged4life

03-21-2006, 06:46 PM

Did you read the sleeve notes on the Neil Diamond album? Rubin was really tough on Diamond, listening to his songs, telling him if he thought they were crap, making him go back and rewrite stuff and improve stuff over and over again, until he was satisfied and thought they were good enough. Obviously Rubin brought in a whole heap of friends this time to help get the sound he wanted with the Dixie Chicks. Whatever he does, it seems to work.

by being a person who sits around and gives his opinion, I will give him credit as being a great motivator in the studio in regards to getting the best out of an artist (He will need good luck in regards to Metallica...Reading the studio comments about Metallica w/Rubin at the helm on the official Metallica website is a big laugh) but as a producer in the technical sense I think he is very ordinary and somewhat overrated.

Oh, never listened to Neil Diamond since he is not my taste in music...But he has my respects as a musician/songwriter :nod:

Jason T.

03-22-2006, 12:35 AM

YAY!!! I've been waiting for this...sounds promising.

bikerchic

05-14-2006, 11:50 AM

They're on "60 Minutes" tonite, if anyone cares. I'll be watching. I saw a preview and they're talking about the death threats they got. Stuff like "you will be shot dead, at your Dallas show on such and such date" :shocked: Pretty scary.

tynan88

05-15-2006, 01:47 AM

I LOVE THE DIXIE CHICKS!

Listening to Stevie's cover of their song Landslide made me get in to them.

sparky

05-15-2006, 01:58 AM

Wild_Heart03

05-15-2006, 03:39 AM

I can't wait to hear the new album, I'm sure it's gonna be great. I love the first single "Not Ready To Make Nice", the lyrics are obviously very personal since they relate to the Bush incident in 2003.

bikerchic

05-15-2006, 07:10 AM

Listening to Stevie's cover of their song Landslide made me get in to them.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

bikerchic

05-31-2006, 01:20 PM

Heads Up: The Chicks are on Larry King tonite.

BombaySapphire3

05-31-2006, 02:26 PM

I'm happy to report "Taking The Long Way" has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 526,000 albums in it's first week.I love this album !

skcin

05-31-2006, 02:30 PM

I'm getting much more into the CD as time goes on. They were on Good Morning America last week - looked & sounded great.

sparky

05-31-2006, 02:50 PM

I'm getting much more into the CD as time goes on. They were on Good Morning America last week - looked & sounded great.

I saw the video for "Not Ready To Make Nice" 3 times this weekend at the rodeo, and it is fantastic. And I now like the song a whole lot more.

JazmenFlowers

05-31-2006, 02:58 PM

I saw the video for "Not Ready To Make Nice" 3 times this weekend at the rodeo, and it is fantastic. And I now like the song a whole lot more.
I know. It gives me chills. I love the part where they hold hands. sweet.

sparky

05-31-2006, 03:04 PM

I know. It gives me chills. I love the part where they hold hands. sweet.

The video projections make the hair on the back of my arms stand up. All that menacing, billowing, exploding black ink, perfectly timed to the song. The editing is particularly exceptional. All those images of them with black all over their hands, wiping it on their white dresses and unable to get rid of it. It is full on Lady Macbeth.
The part where they are holding Natalie on the bed is powerful too. And they all look hot. I am so impressed by the whole thing. I want to own it.

JazmenFlowers

05-31-2006, 03:05 PM

The video projections make the hair on the back of my arms stand up. All that menacing, billowing, exploding black ink, perfectly timed to the song. The editing is particularly exceptional. All those images of them with black all over their hands, wiping it on their white dresses and unable to get rid of it. It is full on Lady Macbeth.
The part where they are holding Natalie on the bed is powerful too. And they all look hot. I am so impressed by the whole thing. I want to own it.
yeppers. :nod:

it'll probably be on iTunes or I can download it from a program I have and send to you.

skcin

05-31-2006, 03:09 PM

Yes! I concur! That video is fan****ingtastic! And that's rare these days, music videos bore me lately.

sparky

05-31-2006, 03:10 PM

yeppers. :nod:

it'll probably be on iTunes or I can download it from a program I have and send to you.

Mmmm. Awesome.

JazmenFlowers

05-31-2006, 03:15 PM

Mmmm. Awesome.
it's been a long time since I got an "Mmmm" response from anyone for any reason. thank you for that. :laugh:

I'll see if I can find it tonight. I'll be in touch.

Livia

05-31-2006, 04:47 PM

I can't wait to see this vid! :thumbsup:

JazmenFlowers

05-31-2006, 04:51 PM

I can't wait to see this vid! :thumbsup:
I know it's on youtube right now.

Livia

05-31-2006, 05:18 PM

Cool, I'll check it out when I get home!

I've got procrastinating attorneys to deal with at the moment. I'm sure you know all about that! :p

JazmenFlowers

05-31-2006, 06:02 PM

Cool, I'll check it out when I get home!

I've got procrastinating attorneys to deal with at the moment. I'm sure you know all about that! :p
no, not at all.

:p

Livia

05-31-2006, 07:45 PM

I like the chicks. Natalie is a little shrill, but great with harmonies. These girls are talented as musicians, singers, and writers. A rarity these days. And I didn't mind their Landslide. Of course Stevie should work with Rick Rubin. She has never had a producer who was able to tell her that her songs or lyrics were crap - it might actually produce a solo record that wasn't 40% bad songs. If only.

Get out of my head! That would be my only negative comment about the album. The shrillness starts to bother me around 3/4 through...I love their Landslide (and the video for it) and nothing would please me more than to hear that Rick Rubin was on tap to produce Stevie's next solo album.

The video projections make the hair on the back of my arms stand up. All that menacing, billowing, exploding black ink, perfectly timed to the song. The editing is particularly exceptional. All those images of them with black all over their hands, wiping it on their white dresses and unable to get rid of it. It is full on Lady Macbeth.

Black INK? Oil perhaps?? Someone on youtube pointed that out. That it may be oil, representing blood. Verrryy interesting!

sparky

05-31-2006, 08:02 PM

Get out of my head! That would be my only negative comment about the album. The shrillness starts to bother me around 3/4 through...I love their Landslide (and the video for it) and nothing would please me more than to hear that Rick Rubin was on tap to produce Stevie's next solo album.

I like being in your head !:xoxo:

Yeah, she has a sharp edge to her voice, but it's okay. I adore Dolly, and I can only listen to her for about 30 minutes too. It starts to hurt my inner ear, that edge. Ditto early Joni, as much as I love her.

Black INK? Oil perhaps?? Someone on youtube pointed that out. That it may be oil, representing blood. Verrryy interesting!

God knows what they used for the effect, but it looks inky. It is totally a blood thing. Red would have been OTT.

Livia

05-31-2006, 08:04 PM

You are watching them on Larry King right at this moment, aren't you??? :xoxo:

I'm going back to the living room now....

sparky

05-31-2006, 08:32 PM

You are watching them on Larry King right at this moment, aren't you??? :xoxo:

I'm going back to the living room now....

I am cable and tv reception free. And only regret it at moments like this.

bikerchic

06-01-2006, 07:28 AM

Does the oil represent "oil loving Bush"? Did you catch the lines Natalie has to right on the chalkboard?

"Speaking without thinking, is like shooting without aiming". Towards Cheney perhaps? I love it!

sparky

06-01-2006, 11:29 AM

bikerchic

06-01-2006, 02:28 PM

Ok, so I've been listening to the cd for a couple of days now and I really like it. It's #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on Amazon and #1 here in Canada! :thumbsup: Good for them. I thought they were really good on Larry King last nite. Reba, that little mouse ear republican bitch. She can go suck Toby's d*ck :D

Anyhow, they are playing here in October, tickets go on sale tomorrow, are you interested Paula?

sparky

06-01-2006, 02:33 PM

Reba, that little mouse ear republican bitch. She can go suck Toby's d*ck :D

What did she say ?

skcin

06-01-2006, 02:36 PM

What did she say ?

She said something about the Chicks being able to sing with their foot in their mouths at the Country Awards last week. Other than that, I'm not sure.

BTW, Theresa, I saw them in 2003 & they were fabulous, but I'll probably pass this time. Too broke to keep going to shows like I was.

sparky

06-01-2006, 02:38 PM

She said something about the Chicks being able to sing with their foot in their mouths at the Country Awards last week. Other than that, I'm not sure.

Suspect. She must be kissing Toby's big hairy ass because they are both Okies.

bikerchic

06-01-2006, 03:11 PM

What did she say ?

It's not so much what she said but more her response to the crowds reaction.

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iN_Qd8OeRFA"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iN_Qd8OeRFA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

sparky

06-01-2006, 07:20 PM

It's not so much what she said but more her response to the crowds reaction.

Hmm. I am not sure what to make of it. She got a laugh, which I suspect was her goal.

Livia

06-01-2006, 08:13 PM

Theresa - Vroom, vroom! It's Republic of Texas Biker Rally weekend...hogs all over the place! I've already been telling my coworkers to be careful driving around this weekend w/ all the bikers in town - check your mirrors! And good catch on the chalkboard, I couldn't figure it out...I love it!

Sparky - yeah, that's what I meant. Not so much whatever substance it was that they used while filming the video, but what it represents. Blood for oil. :nod:

bikerchic

06-01-2006, 08:23 PM

Hmm. I am not sure what to make of it. She got a laugh, which I suspect was her goal.
Yeah, but it probably took about 12 rednecks to come up with that joke :laugh: I was kind of surprised by it too. I guess I shouldn't be though.

bikerchic

06-01-2006, 08:27 PM

Theresa - Vroom, vroom! It's Republic of Texas Biker Rally weekend...hogs all over the place! I've already been telling my coworkers to be careful driving around this weekend w/ all the bikers in town - check your mirrors! And good catch on the chalkboard, I couldn't figure it out...I love it!

There so many biker rally weekends, I can't keep track of them all :laugh: Bikers will find any kind of excuse to ride :thumbsup:

estranged4life

06-01-2006, 10:23 PM

Suspect. She must be kissing Toby's big hairy ass because they are both Okies.

for y'all Yanks/Liberals/Hosers....

#1-If you are from Oklahoma (As I am) then you are sometimes called an "Oklahoman"...Fine, No problem with me as long as you dont call me a @#$^%&* "Sooner"!

#2-ONLY If you are from the town Muskogee, Oklahoma (My birthplace/hometown....Not some 'imaginary place' that Non-Muskogee resident asscrack Merle Haggard sang about) you are called an "Okie"

So please, be kind and dont use the word "Okie" when describing either "Mullet man" or the "Red-headed parrot", ok?

Thank you for your time...And country music blows!!!

sparky

06-01-2006, 11:54 PM

for y'all Yanks/Liberals/Hosers....

#1-If you are from Oklahoma (As I am) then you are sometimes called an "Oklahoman"...Fine, No problem with me as long as you dont call me a @#$^%&* "Sooner"!

#2-ONLY If you are from the town Muskogee, Oklahoma (My birthplace/hometown....Not some 'imaginary place' that Non-Muskogee resident asscrack Merle Haggard sang about) you are called an "Okie"

So please, be kind and dont use the word "Okie" when describing either "Mullet man" or the "Red-headed parrot", ok?

Thank you for your time...And country music blows!!!

Sheesh. I had no clue. And I have been there 3 times and own property there. I shall not offend in the future.

Last weekend a few friends wanted to go eat at some Toby Keith restaurant and I had to boycott. Is he an Okie, or just a jackass ?

estranged4life

06-02-2006, 12:40 AM

Last weekend a few friends wanted to go eat at some Toby Keith restaurant and I had to boycott. Is he an Okie, or just a jackass ?

he's just an asswipe from Moore (Though he was born in Clinton)...Who slobbers on the Gooners, I meant the Sooners!!!

Havent ate at his restaurant, too expensive and from various reports the food is lousy.

Have to be in downtown OKC tomorrow so I will be sure to shoot 'the bird' at that restaurant (Which bears his name, but he doesnt own, He's just a partner in another lameass theme restaurant).

strandinthewind

06-02-2006, 02:34 AM

Hmm. I am not sure what to make of it. She got a laugh, which I suspect was her goal.

I agree and it was funny :shrug:

strandinthewind

06-02-2006, 02:35 AM

There so many biker rally weekends, I can't keep track of them all :laugh: Bikers will find any kind of excuse to ride :thumbsup:

I agree and I am in the process of buying a Fat Boy! Wanna give me lessons?

bikerchic

06-02-2006, 12:29 PM

Anyone have the pre-sale password for chix tix?

Hey Strandie, do you have your motorcycle license? Is it a graduating license thing, like here?

strandinthewind

06-02-2006, 12:34 PM

. . . Hey Strandie, do you have your motorcycle license? Is it a graduating license thing, like here?

Well, the deal for the used bike is far from being done and it likely will not happen. But, I would LOVE one!!!!!

Also, here is the process in Georgia:

Applying for a Motorcycle License

Motorcycle Operator License Requirements

A Class M license is required to operate, legally, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle in Georgia. Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor and moped, are defined as motorcycles. Georgia law places all types of motorcycles (including scooters, motorbikes and minibikes) into one classification. All are considered motor-driven cycles.

Class M - License Requirements

Must be 16 years of age and have parental consent, if under 18.
Must successfully complete a motorcycle examination which includes special road signs test, a special road rules test and an actual driving test on a motorcycle.

You must also pass a visual acuity test. If the vision test was administered and passed during the year, the eye test may be waived.

If the applicant meets the established requirements for a Class M license, and also possesses a Class C or combination of other classes of permits, that license must be surrendered and a photographic license containing the Class M endorsement will be issued. The applicant will not be given a refund for their remaining period of validity of the other license, but such endorsements would run concurrently with the Class M endorsement.

Class M - Instructional Permit

All applicants must pass an eye test and an examination of motorcycle knowledge. An issued Class M instruction permit is valid for 6 months, after which time the applicant may return to the issuing station and take a road test. It is not mandatory for a Class M license applicant to obtain a Class M Instructional Permit before taking the Class M examination. Restrictions for a
Class M instructional permit are the following:

Must be at least 16 years old and have parental consent if under 18.
Motorcycle operation in daylight hours only.
No passengers allowed.
No limited access roadways.
Safety equipment as prescribed by law.
Mopeds
A moped is any motor driven cycle with an engine not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters (3.05 cubic inches) that can propel the cycle at a speed not to exceed 30 miles per hour (MPH) and does not require clutching or shifting.

Mopeds are exempt from the provisions relating to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles.

Rules to operate mopeds on Georgia roads and highways:

Must be 15 years of age and have in their possession a valid driver’s license, instructional permit or limited permit.
Must wear protective headgear (motorcycle helmet).
No tag is required.
Every person operating a moped upon a roadway must obey the same traffic laws governing drivers of motor vehicles.
May not use limited access highways or other roadways where the minimum speed limit is above 35 mph.

The Driving Test (Class M)
You must furnish a motorcycle for the test and pass a safety inspection of the motorcycle by the license examiner before the driving test is given.

Motorcycle operator's testing information is covered in the Motorcycle Operator's Manual. For more information, please see our Motorcycle Safety Program.

ast Updated On: 6/21/2005

http://www.dds.ga.gov/drivers/DLdata.aspx?con=1749319514&ty=dl

BTFLCHLD

06-02-2006, 12:53 PM

bikerchic

06-02-2006, 01:01 PM

I have a renewed appreciation for their music. Did anyone see them perform on the CBS Early Show today? Hopefully the website will post the video soon. The NBC Today Show posted Stevie so CBS better get it in gear! :blob2: :blob2:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/earlyshow/main500202.shtml
I saw it! They were great! I love Natalie's voice. She looked really good too, she's lost alot a weight and looked really hot with those shorts and boots.

Livia

06-07-2006, 08:54 PM

They are still #1!

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002649081

June 07, 2006, 10:50 AM ET

Katie Hasty, N.Y.
In a slow week for new album releases, the Dixie Chicks are queens of The Billboard 200 for a second week straight with "Taking the Long Way." Despite a slip of 48% in sales at 271,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the Columbia set also remains No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart.

Out of the 13 albums that have taken No. 1 on the big chart so far this year, only four had a second week sales decline of less than 50%: "Taking the Long Way," Barry Manilow's "The Greatest Songs of the Fifties," Jack Johnson's "Curious George" soundtrack and Il Divo's "Ancora."

The soundtrack to Disney's "High School Musical" holds tight at No. 2 in its 21st week on the chart, selling 103,000 copies (-41%). Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium" (Warner Bros.), which sat atop the chart two weeks ago, climbs 5-3 with 87,000 copies, a 22% dip. Rascal Flatts' fourth Lyric Street/Hollywood full-length, "Me and My Gang," shoots up 6-4, though its 79,000 units sold are an 8% decrease from the prior week.

RCA's "American Idol Season 5: Encores" compilation, featuring songs from each of the 12 finalists, falls 3-5 with a sales hit of -56% at 68,000 copies. Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, who covers "Takin' It to the Streets" on the release, and runner-up Katharine McPhee, who interprets "Think," both scored record deals with RCA-affiliated labels in the last week.

The 21st "NOW! That's What I Call Music" (BMG/Zomba/EMI/UME) installment re-enters the top tier, moving 11-6 with 55,000 (-2%). Tool's "10,000 Days" (Tool Dissectional/Volcano) continues to fall 7-9 with 55,000 (-16%), less than a couple hundred behind "NOW! 21."

Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" (Arista/Arista Nashville) ascends 10-8 with 54,000 (-16%) while James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam" (Custard/Atlantic) re-enters the top 10 with a 25-9 explosion. The album sold 51,000 copies, a 53% boost, possibly attributable to Blunt's May 29 appearance on NBC's "Today" show.

With help from the popularity of her "Hips Don't Lie" single featuring Wyclef Jean, Shakira's "Oral Fixation Vol. 2" scoots into the No. 10 spot from No. 13 with 51,000 (+7%), a few hundred short of Blunt's count. It originally peaked at No. 5 in late 2005 and early 2006.

No new releases bowed in the top 100 slots of the Billboard 200. The closest contenders include Mike Patton's new project, Peeping Tom, entering with its self-titled Ipecac debut (No. 103, 10,000) and Les Claypool's third solo studio album, "Of Whales and Woe" (Prawn Song), with 8,000 at No. 115 (his best chart position yet).

At 9.3 million units, overall CD sales were down 7% from the previous week and down 10% compared to the same week a year ago. Sales for 2006 are down 3% compared to 2005 at 231.7 million units.

carrie721

06-07-2006, 09:03 PM

i'm so glad they're doing well; i think it's a great album! good for them. :thumbsup:

skcin

06-09-2006, 12:11 PM

Not surprising. Somehow I really don't think they're too worried, considering they had to add a second Toronto date after the first one sold out fast. :)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/09/dixie.chicks.reut/index.html

Red state backlash hurts Chicks' tour

Friday, June 9, 2006; Posted: 10:07 a.m. EDT (14:07 GMT)

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Country music trio the Dixie Chicks, still taking heat for criticizing U.S. President George W. Bush, are weathering sluggish ticket sales in several cities for their upcoming U.S. tour, industry watchers reported on Thursday.

While early ticket purchases for their first major tour in three years are generally robust in Northeastern cities, initial sales have fallen short of expectations in numerous markets, especially in the Midwest and South, forcing some dates to be scrubbed.

By contrast, the group's latest album, "Taking the Long Way," opened atop the U.S. pop charts last week, selling 526,000 copies during its first seven days and remaining No. 1 in its second week to notch one of the year's strongest debuts.

But with many country music stations denying the Chicks airplay, box office business is off to a slow start in places where the group has sold out in the past, said Gary Bongiovanni, editor of concert industry magazine Pollstar.

According to Pollstar, dates in Memphis, Tennessee, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, and Fresno, California, have been dropped from the tour schedule for now, while box-office sales also were canceled for Houston.

Billboard magazine reported that ticket counts for shows that went on sale last weekend were averaging 5,000 to 6,000 seats per date in major markets, and less in secondary locales. Arena capacities on the tour generally top 15,000.

"Basically, they're having to rethink the entire tour at this point," Bongiovanni told Reuters. "Clearly their problems seem to be strongest in the red states," he said, referring to those areas carried by Bush in the 2004 presidential election.

A key factor in tepid sales was the continuing backlash against the Dixie Chicks by many country music stations over the anti-Bush remarks of lead singer Natalie Maines in 2003.

Publicists for the band declined to comment, as did officials for AEG, one of the companies promoting the tour.

Maines sparked an uproar when she declared during a London concert in March 2003 that the band was embarrassed to come from the same state -- Texas -- as the president. She fanned flames anew by retracting an earlier apology for "disrespecting the office of the president," telling Time magazine in a recent interview: "I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."

"Country radio in many places has really closed the door on this group," Bongiovanni said, adding that some stations have not only refused to play the Chicks' music, they have refused advertisements for their tour as well.

Still, ticket sales were strong in cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Toronto, where a second October show was added to the schedule after the first concert quickly sold out, he said.

Further complicating the Chicks' commercial outlook has been their recent transformation as a band, Bongiovanni said.

"They've moved away from being a purely country group, so their audience is changing," he said.

Bongiovanni said it was not unusual for concert schedules to be altered after being booked, but he said the Dixie Chicks tour was drawing more attention than usual "because of the politics behind it." After two shows in London this month, the tour was set to begin on July 21 in Detroit.

Copyright 2006 Reuters.

JazmenFlowers

06-09-2006, 01:06 PM

Not surprising. Somehow I really don't think they're too worried, considering they had to add a second Toronto date after the first one sold out fast. :)
damn. I probably would've went to the Memphis show.

estranged4life

06-09-2006, 03:28 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/09/dixie.chicks.reut/index.html

the OKC show was dropped, DC receiving airplay is virtually non-existant here (While I will never be a fan, after reading the TIME magaine article last week as Deb had another PET scan, They do have my respect.)

But this summer concert season in OKC is dead/tits up, except for a few acts that could be considered 'nostalgic' acts, no one of major interest is coming here...Thus the sluggish ticket sales.

skcin

06-14-2006, 04:16 PM

Chicks concert being brodcast LIVE on MSN tomorrow!

http://dixiechicks.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=542549&GT1=8227

bikerchic

06-14-2006, 05:00 PM

Ho **** man, thats cool. Thanks for the heads up :thumbsup:

MacMan

06-14-2006, 06:08 PM

They just added my city (Winnipeg) to the tour this week probably after having to drop a few midwest shows - pre sale tix are onsale now with the rest on Saturday...

bikerchic

06-14-2006, 06:19 PM

^ Let me know how ticket sales go. They sold out in Toronto in 8 minutes and added another show.

MacMan

06-19-2006, 10:57 AM

bikerchic ^ Let me know how ticket sales go.

Guess tickets sales were good! They just added a second show for Winnipeg.

DestinyRules

06-19-2006, 09:46 PM

sparky

06-19-2006, 10:01 PM

Didn't Jimmy Iovine do that?

Indeed. He did. Somehow those slipped my mind. He marked the end of an era. But hey, he did let Gate and Garden slip by. And The Highwayman. Best track record of them, without a doubt.

golddustwoman77

06-21-2006, 10:05 AM

damn. I probably would've went to the Memphis show.

Come to the Knoxville show! I'm going to it. Also, you can fly from Memphis to Knoxville on Northwest Airlines---Very inexpensively. My husband and I do it some. My brother in law lives in Memphis. As a matter of fact, we are flying to Memphis in July, and we just got the tickets. They were like $240, if you get them way early they are even cheaper. Just a thought.

To add to the Reba and Toby conversation, if you watched Larry King Live, Natalie said that she and Toby did have a few problems, but it wasn't about politics. It was about her saying one of his songs was crap. She said that Toby was a "good Democrat" like her, and that it was water under the bridge. Toby Keith in a recent interview has said the same thing. Natalie also stated that Toby has done little to nothing to hurt their career. Then, she added that Reba McEntire, on the other hand, had done a great deal to try to hurt their career, and that they have a "real" problem with her. :shocked: I had no idea. This part of the interview was very enlightening.

bikerchic

06-22-2006, 12:49 PM

[QUOTE=skcin]Chicks concert being brodcast LIVE on MSN tomorrow!

For anyone who missed it, hear are some highlights. Man, do I love Easy Silence.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=3f524443-8e9f-4277-a750-41f70e04111f&t=s121&f=01/64&p=hotvideo_chicks