Whether we’re talking about the 13x Platinum (in the U.S. alone) record Wide Open Spaces, countless chart-topping hits, or knack for making music so enchanting fans of any genre can love it . . . The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
And then 2003 happened.
During the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, The Chicks performed a concert in England on March 10, 2003, which opened their Top of the World Tour. While Natalie Maines, the lead singer of The Chicks was introducing their song “Travelin’ Soldier”, she said to the audience: “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.” And as The Chicks sing on the first track of their 2006 record Taking The Long Way: “the top of the world came crashing down.”
To say that the Dixie Chicks were cancelled from this one split-second comment would be an understatement. They were blacklisted from the country music community and parts of the music industry at large. They were bullied, threatened, and hated by a sizable amount of the U.S.. I know how hard it is to believe that reality given what is said on a daily basis by the U.S.’s own president . . . but I digress.
In response to this overblown and unnecessarily angry response, The Chicks released their fantastic album Taking The Long Way in 2006 (anchored by one of the best songs ever made: ‘Not Ready To Make Nice’).
And for that album alone, we need to applaud The Chicks. In a world where they were sent death threats and had to experience hurtful comments on a daily basis, it would have been easy for them to quit making and performing music altogether. But they got right back up, wrote an album, and performed their hearts out. And the final result of Taking the Long Way was glorious.
After a long hiatus with no new music (aside from an excellent remix with Beyoncé on her song ‘Daddy Lessons’ and a guest spot on Taylor Swift’s brilliant ‘Soon You’ll Get Better’), The Chicks felt they had new stories to tell and music to create. And as a result . . . The Chicks are back with their first album in 14 years, Gaslighter. So, how is it?
Let me not mince words here . . . it should be illegal to make a record as wall-to-wall fantastic as Gaslighter. The Chicks made one of the best albums I’ve laid ears on in years, and I mean that with every ounce of my being.
The Chicks are not only as good as ever on their eighth studio album, but they also created 2020’s best album with Gaslighter. It’s a sonically gorgeous, vocally commanding, and lyrically potent record that is the best way The Chicks could have possibly come back from their hiatus.
The brilliant ‘Gaslighter’ with its monstrous hook, fast-pace, and honest lyrics about Natalie Maines’ former husband acts as a perfect opener to this record. But seriously, if you thought I was joking when I said the lyrics were honest . . . this is the chorus of the track: “Gaslighter, denier / Doin’ anything to get your ass farther / Gaslighter, big timer / Repeating all of the mistakes of your father / Gaslighter, you broke me / You’re sorry, but where’s my apology? / Gaslighter, you liar.” Yeah . . . no jokes here.
The second track ‘Sleep at Night’ puts the focus on the banjo, and Maines sings some biting lyrics like: “My husband’s girlfriend’s husband just called me up / How messed up is that? / It’s so insane that I have to laugh / But then I think about our two boys trying to become men / There’s nothing funny about that.” Talk about a dose of truth! While these lyrics are, admittedly, hard to read because of how personal this song feels, how Maines connects her ex-husband’s actions to motherhood is ingenious. It’s biting and thought-provoking and paired with the incredible vocals, gorgeous backing vocals, and soft, pretty instrumental to back the tune up . . . this song is straight-up awesome.
‘Everybody Loves You’ is the biggest vocal standout on Gaslighter. It is a cover of Charlotte Lawrence’s song of the same name, but when a cover is this brilliantly executed – I don’t care that it’s not an original song. Maines’ jaw-dropping, stunning vocals are as silky and smooth as butter, the backing vocals and incredible harmonies are almost too beautiful to handle, and the violin adds great melody to this track. It’s the complete package, and it transitions effortlessly into the next song ‘For Her’.
‘For Her’ has more trademark superb vocals from Maines, delightful instrumentation with a great banjo presence, and a set of really compelling lyrics about either guidance from an older woman to a younger one or a woman talking to her younger self. The advice is seen on the chorus of this track when Maines sings: “So dig a little bit deeper / And be a little bit kinder / And a lot less guarded / ‘Cause it takes, it takes / It takes a lot of hard work / To get a whole lot stronger.”
‘March March’ is The Chicks’ response to the injustice and inequality seen in America (not to disparage Canada’s own issues which need to be changed too). The Chicks have never been a band to back down from fighting for what they believe in, and this song may be the best example of that. This track discusses many issues, including, but not limited to: gun control, reproductive rights, and racial injustice. A prime example of this comes at the beginning of the second verse: “Tell the ol’ boys in the white bread lobby / What they can and can’t do with their bodies / Temperatures are risin’, cities are sinkin’.” The Chicks also commit to staying true to themselves and encourage others to do the same when they sing: “March, march to my own drum / Hey, hey, I’m an army of one.”
‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ is about Natalie Maines’ failed relationship with her husband. She speaks about meeting him at the first wedding of bandmate and bestfriend Emily Erwin. Maines sings: “There was something about [him] / [He] set off fireworks that evening / With a flicker of untruth”. 20 years later, Maines sings that she realizes she “was never safe”. But it’s not right to get so entangled in the personal and striking lyrics because the tune is just as top-notch.
‘Julianna Calm Down’ is a marvelous track dedicated to Eva, Katie and Harper (daughters of Marie Maguire), and Juliana and Violet (daughters of Emily Robinson). Sonically, it’s lush and triumphant, and lyrically it’s inspirational and encouraging. ‘Young Man’ follows as a song for Maines’ sons. Maines asks that they “Take the best parts” of her ex-husband and “Leave the bad news behind”. This heartwarming tune inspires hope and kindness and is just as compelling as the aforementioned ‘Julianna Calm Down’.
‘Hope It’s Something Good’ stuns with its orchestral instrumentation, alluring harmonies, and cutting lyrics. The Chicks sing: “If you’re gone / I hope it’s really worth it / Twenty years of hanging on / Now it all adds up to nothin’” about Maines’ divorce. Through merely listening to this song, you can tell how cathartic it must have been to pen and perform a track like this.
Closing track ‘Set Me Free’ shows Maines begging her ex-husband to sign the divorce papers and let her go. The Chicks plead: “Decency / Would be for you to sign and release me / If you ever loved me / Then will you do this one last thing?” Add onto that fantastic production courtesy of Jack Antonoff (who’s responsible for majority of the production on this outrageously enjoyable album), soaring vocals from Maines, and beautiful, soft instrumentation . . . and you have the best note Gaslighter could have ended on.
Other highlights include ‘Texas Man’ with its rolicking beat and unforgettable chorus and ‘Tights On My Boat’ with its dark and bitterly angry lyrics. One note about ‘Tights On My Boat’ is the foreshadowing to it on the title track ‘Gaslighter’. On ‘Gaslighter’ Maines sings: “’Cause, boy, you know exactly what you did on my boat .”
In case it wasn’t obvious, I listed every single song on this album as a standout. And that’s not because Gaslighter is perfect . . . no album ever will be. In fact, I think this album has the occasional production or flow issue. However, I simply can’t come up with any major issues for this record 7 listens in. And what’s more peculiar is that an album with this much anticipation behind it (14 years to be exact) shouldn’t meet expectations. I mean, how would that be possible?
I’m not sure I have the answer to that question, but The Chicks have seemed to crack the code. Gaslighter is nothing short of triumphant, captivating, and brilliant. It’s not only the best album of 2020 so far (and when I’m saying it’s better than Lady Gaga’s Chromatica and Carly Rae Jepsen’s Dedicated Side B . . . you know it’s good), but it stands shoulder to shoulder with the fantastic Taking The Long Way.
Overall Analysis:
Recommended Age – 13+
Rating – 9/10
Favourite Tracks – ‘Gaslighter’, ‘Sleep at Night’, ‘Texas Man’, ‘Everybody Loves You’, ‘March March’, ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’, ‘Julianna Calm Down’, ‘Young Man’, ‘Hope It’s Something Good’, ‘Set Me Free’
Least Favourite Tracks – N/A
© Sayak S-G, SesayArts Magazine, 2020
