The Chicks Album Series (Complete)
Jan 27, 2021 21:20:09 GMT -5
Post by tim on Jan 27, 2021 21:20:09 GMT -5
The Chicks were the preeminent country group of their generation, transforming the sound and sensibility of the genre at the dawn of the 2000s with their multi-platinum albums Wide Open Spaces, Fly, and Home. Steeped in country tradition -- in their earliest incarnation anchored by Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, they were a western outfit, singing songs by Texan troubadours -- the Chicks were transformed when Natalie Maines joined the band in 1995.
Maines brought a steely defiance and an unorthodox pop/rock sensibility to the band, characteristics that were evident on 1998's Wide Open Spaces, but its 1999 sequel Fly is where this blend reached full bloom. Fly inched into the pop mainstream, with its revenge anthem "Goodbye Earl" cracking Billboard's Top 20 and the record itself being nominated for a Grammy Album Of The Year. Home proved it was no fluke: the 2002 album gave the trio two Top Ten pop singles in "Long Time Gone" and "Landslide," while maintaining a robust presence on country radio.
The cross-platform success didn't last for long. Just prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March of 2003, Maines told a London audience the band were "ashamed" President George W. Bush, who also hailed from Texas. The country music establishment abandoned the Chicks in short order, pulling their music from the airwaves. The trio rallied for Taking the Long Way, a 2006 album that took home five Grammys including Album Of The Year, but after its release, the Chicks took an extended hiatus. By the time they returned in 2020 with Gaslighter, an album that fully embraced pop, they were hailed as the most influential country band of their generation, cited as an influence by scores of younger musicians.
Maines brought a steely defiance and an unorthodox pop/rock sensibility to the band, characteristics that were evident on 1998's Wide Open Spaces, but its 1999 sequel Fly is where this blend reached full bloom. Fly inched into the pop mainstream, with its revenge anthem "Goodbye Earl" cracking Billboard's Top 20 and the record itself being nominated for a Grammy Album Of The Year. Home proved it was no fluke: the 2002 album gave the trio two Top Ten pop singles in "Long Time Gone" and "Landslide," while maintaining a robust presence on country radio.
The cross-platform success didn't last for long. Just prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in March of 2003, Maines told a London audience the band were "ashamed" President George W. Bush, who also hailed from Texas. The country music establishment abandoned the Chicks in short order, pulling their music from the airwaves. The trio rallied for Taking the Long Way, a 2006 album that took home five Grammys including Album Of The Year, but after its release, the Chicks took an extended hiatus. By the time they returned in 2020 with Gaslighter, an album that fully embraced pop, they were hailed as the most influential country band of their generation, cited as an influence by scores of younger musicians.
Recap of Results
{Wide Open Spaces}12. Give It Up or Let Me Go (279)
11. I’ll Take Care of You (255)
10. Never Say Die (241)
9. Let ‘Er Rip (240)
8. Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way) (217)
7. Loving Arms (194)
6. Once You’ve Loved Somebody (192)
5. I Can Love You Better (169)
4. Tonight the Heartache’s on Me (161)
3. There’s Your Trouble (114)
2. You Were Mine (109)
1. Wide Open Spaces (91)
11. I’ll Take Care of You (255)
10. Never Say Die (241)
9. Let ‘Er Rip (240)
8. Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way) (217)
7. Loving Arms (194)
6. Once You’ve Loved Somebody (192)
5. I Can Love You Better (169)
4. Tonight the Heartache’s on Me (161)
3. There’s Your Trouble (114)
2. You Were Mine (109)
1. Wide Open Spaces (91)
{Fly}13. Hole in My Head (319)
12. Let Him Fly (261)
11 Don’t Waste Your Heart (253)
10. Hello Mr. Heartache (252)
9. Some Days You Gotta Dance (235)
8. Heartbreak Town (222)
7. Sin Wagon (186)
6. If I Fall You’re Going Down with Me (181)
5. Without You (172)
4. Cold Day in July (155)
3. Ready to Run (145)
2. Goodbye Earl (94)
1. Cowboy Take Me Away (73)
12. Let Him Fly (261)
11 Don’t Waste Your Heart (253)
10. Hello Mr. Heartache (252)
9. Some Days You Gotta Dance (235)
8. Heartbreak Town (222)
7. Sin Wagon (186)
6. If I Fall You’re Going Down with Me (181)
5. Without You (172)
4. Cold Day in July (155)
3. Ready to Run (145)
2. Goodbye Earl (94)
1. Cowboy Take Me Away (73)
{Home}12. Lil’ Jack Slade (291)
11. More Love (252)
10. I Believe in Love (247)
9. Tortured, Tangled Hearts (206)
8. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) (205)
7. A Home (203)
6. White Trash Wedding (182)
5. Truth No. 2 (176)
4. Top of the World (146)
3. Landslide (112)
2. Travelin’ Soldier (85)
1. Long Time Gone (79)
11. More Love (252)
10. I Believe in Love (247)
9. Tortured, Tangled Hearts (206)
8. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) (205)
7. A Home (203)
6. White Trash Wedding (182)
5. Truth No. 2 (176)
4. Top of the World (146)
3. Landslide (112)
2. Travelin’ Soldier (85)
1. Long Time Gone (79)
{Taking The Long Way}
16. I Like It (340)
15. Live Wire (340)
14. I Hope (335)
13. Baby Hold On (306)
12. So Hard (305)
11. Thin Line (291)
10. Favorite Year (258)
9. Silent House (235)
8. Bitter End (233)
7. Lullaby (224)
6. Voice Inside My Head (192)
5. Lubbock or Leave It (191)
4. Easy Silence (156)
3. Everybody Knows (142)
2. The Long Way Around (78)
1. Not Ready to Make Nice (46)
16. I Like It (340)
15. Live Wire (340)
14. I Hope (335)
13. Baby Hold On (306)
12. So Hard (305)
11. Thin Line (291)
10. Favorite Year (258)
9. Silent House (235)
8. Bitter End (233)
7. Lullaby (224)
6. Voice Inside My Head (192)
5. Lubbock or Leave It (191)
4. Easy Silence (156)
3. Everybody Knows (142)
2. The Long Way Around (78)
1. Not Ready to Make Nice (46)
{Gaslighter}12. For Her (227)
11. Set Me Free (217)
10. Tights on My Boat (203)
9. Young Man (201)
8. Julianna Calm Down (192)
7. Hope It’s Something Good (192)
6. My Best Friend’s Weddings (183)
5. Everybody Loves You (177)
4. March March (160)
3. Texas Man (152)
2. Gaslighter (69)
1. Sleep at Night (55)
11. Set Me Free (217)
10. Tights on My Boat (203)
9. Young Man (201)
8. Julianna Calm Down (192)
7. Hope It’s Something Good (192)
6. My Best Friend’s Weddings (183)
5. Everybody Loves You (177)
4. March March (160)
3. Texas Man (152)
2. Gaslighter (69)
1. Sleep at Night (55)