Dixie Chicks Album: “Fly”

Description :

Dixie Chicks: Natalie Maines (vocals, hand claps); Emily Robison (acoustic & lap steel guitar, banjo, dobro, hand claps, background vocals); Martie Seidel (fiddle, viola, background vocals). Additional personnel includes: Paul Worley (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Randy Scruggs, Billy Joe Walker Jr, Adam Steinberg, Bryan Sutton, Dennis Linde, Marcus Hummon (acoustic guitar); Pat Buchanan, George Marinelli, Mike Henderson, Keith Urban (electric guitar); Lloyd Maines (steel guitar); John Mock (tin whistle, concertina, bodhran); Steve Conn (accordion); Steve Nathan, Matt Rollings (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Michael Rhodes (bass); Greg Morrow (drums); Tom Roady, Terry McMillan (percussion); Blake Chancey, Charlie Robison (hand claps, background vocals). Principally recorded at Westwood Sound Studio, Nashville, Tennessee. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. FLY won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Country Album. "Ready To Run" won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. FLY was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Album Of The Year. "Ready To Run" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Country Song. The Dixie Chicks won the 2000 CMA Awards for Entertainer Of The Year and Vocal Group Of The Year. FLY won the 2000 CMA Award for Album Of The Year. "Goodbye Earl" won the 2000 CMA Award for Best Video Of The Year. Forget the platform sneakers and safety pins--under all that glitz and glitter, the Dixie Chicks are one heckuva country group. The group sings, plays, and writes beautifully on their sophomore release, FLY. Thankfully, crossover success hasn't taken the country out of the Chicks--Martie Seidel's fiddle and mandolin and Emily Robison's banjo and dobro are still front-and-center in all the arrangements. Natalie Maines' powerful voice wrings every drop of emotion out of a ballad like "Let Him Fly," and then turns on a dime to blast through the "Hole in My Head." But in addition to some fine playing and singing, FLY also finds the Chicks reaching new heights as songwriters. The five tracks for which the group takes writing credits are among the best on the CD, especially the lilting, Irish-flavored "Ready to Run" and the heart-wrenching breakup song "Without You." For comic relief, the Chicks offer their own "Sin Wagon," about a disgruntled wife out to break her marriage vows with a little "mattress dancin'." And while the group may have raised eyebrows at the outset by adopting the slogan "Chicks Kick Ass," FLY proves the Chicks are capable of doing the near impossible: living up to their own hype.

Fly is a great album. The lyrics are quite good and the musicianship is excellent. What always catches my fancy with these girls is Natalie Maines' vocals. That girl has a great set of pipes. Just listen to Hole in my Head. She goes all out on that hilarious song. The chicks best work are on the uptempo country songs like Ready to Run, Sin Wagon, and Some Days You Gotta Dance (my personal favorite). However, the ballads are also excellent. Cowboy Take Me Away is a beautiful, sweet, romantic song. Without You is a sad ballad that is becoming my favorite on the CD. It's Let Him Fly however where the Chicks prove their greatest abilities. Hearing that song was the reason I bought this album. I was not disappointed. I am not a huge fan of country music. I love Shania Twain, Jo Dee Messina, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and Alison Krauss (the best voice of the bunch). But it's not really about liking a specific genre of music. It's about music itself. This music is great. I recommend this album to anyone who likes great vocals and musicianship rolled into one. You truly do not have to be a diehard country fan to love the Chicks of Dixie. Though I would love to see Alison Krauss win the grammy award this year for best country album, the chicks should and probably will win. They put together a nice mix of uptempo songs and ballads. I look forward to more from these girls. They can only improve and that's scary because you can't get much better than Fly.

I generally do not listen to much country music, but for some reason this CD really hit a chord with me, and I absolutely love it!

Every song on "Fly" makes you want to sing along & tap your feet - and each has a great story to tell as well. I think that's what I really like about this particular CD.

I would highly recommend "Fly" to anyone who enjoys country &/or "folk rock" type music. If you want to listen to some music that will put a smile on your face, then this CD is definately for you!

Although I am not a country fan, I appreciate the Dixie Chicks for their musicianship and catchy songs. I saw them live this summer at Lillith Fair, and fell in love. This is a leap from "Wide Open Spaces". It somehow is geared to the country fan and appeals to the non-country fan as well. "Goodbye Earl" is the ultimate "getting dumped" song, and will ring true to any woman, whatever has happened in previous relationships. I URGE anyone looking for a good listening experience to get this one NOW!

I am the Dixie Chicks' new "Biggest Fan." I finally bought this CD after listening to their songs and loving them. And I can honestly say that the only time I've stopped playing it was when my husband told me that our neighbors might kill us if I played it one more time. The best tracks are "If I Fall..." "Cowboy Take Me Away" "Cold Day in July" "Without YOu" and "Heartbreak Town". The album rocks, a perfect blend of Natalie Maines' strong soulful voice, Emily Robison and Martie Seidel providing great harmony and fiery musical solos, and heartfelt -- and often funny -- lyrics. There are a couple songs that I don't love, but that's all right, too. You can't please everyone all the time. I was reluctant to buy this CD because I wouldn't typically describe myself as a "country fan." But the Chicks make Country a style and not a category. They're fantastic!

I didn't know what to expect of "Fly". I thought it would be good, but I was blown away by how brilliant this album really is. With the beautiful opening of "Ready To Run", to the powerful conclusion of "Let Him Fly". Not only was I impressed with the Songs themselves, I was also impressed at Martie's writing ability. Don't get me wrong, Natalie, and Emily can write (especially Emily and Martie's "You Were Mine"). In my opinion, "Cowboy Take Me Away"is the best song that the Chicks have recorded in their career. It Shows that these Chicks really are talented in many different ways.This album is truly awesome. So,go pick it up! It's a great CD!