The Man in Black Would Be Proud

Recently Alex and I were in our local Long and McQuade-he was buying a new set of drums. Afterwards he told me that the too cool-ultra rock guys working in the department were pretty much giddy to hear someone had the new Dixie Chicks record and were going to put it on. Now it could be in part to the fact that a great deal of the drums were laid down by none other than Chad Smith of Chili Peppers fame but I like to think that it's because The Chicks are more Rock n' Roll than a lot of rock out there right now. Now forgive me, this record has been on the shelves for several months and I am well past the press frenzy but the movie Shut Up and Sing has a great deal to do with my infatuation with these girls-and I know I'm not alone, you gotta admit that first they're hot and second they rock, and third they're cool as sin (in an uncool mom kind of way if that makes sense) and obviously have more stones than guys I know. First they slapped around Sony then took on Country radio and the found themselves albeit unwittingly in the middle of a war debate that has split they're nation. But first the record. It's great. With Rick Rubin at the helm, and some of their first real collaborative work and a well of inspiration to draw upon I have been listening to a real, honest, beautiful record-one that I think only women can make. Stand outs for me are Taking the Long Way, Easy Silence, and Lubbock or Leave it. The last one for me being probably the real heart of the record. Natalie Maines puts what they went through with country radio (go see the movie) in a cool historical perspective as she talks about the parallels the she has with Buddy Holly- him and her being from Lubbock and how they were both shunned for not staying true to their country roots.

I have always had a typical urban Canadian dislike for a lot of what has become of popular country. But being from Oshawa I have had my share of force fed so- called down home southern country. Most of it’s over-produced, shallow veneer like trash, veiled with racism, out-dated stereotypes and sung by a lacklustre generation of people that draw their influence from the flawed concept of rebel patriotism. But that thankfully is only the thin layer that rises-or should I say is pushed to the top because it's easy to sell, easy to consume and sits well through the stereo PA system of a car dealership. What most country purists will tell you is that although they may not agree with their politicking, the Dixie Chicks are more country than country. They are roots influenced with less shine and more twang. Country and Rock shared their rise in the fifties and Cash was to Elvis. I believe that DXC may have slapped country around a bit and could wake a good deal of people out of their slumber and re-invest taste, dignity and true earnestness back into the music.
As for their politics, this weeks election results and other goings on are all the vindication they need.

It's sad though that although there have been a number of artists that have been quite critical of the war form the outset -Springsteen, Dave Mathews, John Mayer, Green Day, Neil Young, there has been too much of a quiet complicity within the whole music community. If this is a new Vietnam we are living than there are big shoes to fill in terms of artists forcing change. It could be that DXC are connected to the fear of war because they are mothers as well as artists and this unconsciously made them take on a monster much beyond their weight.

Fear of God is woven within the record. As well, they are artists asking hard questions not just in there faith in what they grew up believing but also the faith that God has our backs. Johnny Cash new all too well that God was more belligerent than benevolent and that everything in life is hard and starting over and over is just a plain truth of our existence. Yes, the Man in Black would be proud-I know I am.