Customer Reviews

Wide Open Spaces

5 star:		(303)
4 star:		(44)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The first song I heard from this album was "Wide Open Spaces." I immediately liked the harmony and sound of this song, but was a little hesitant to buy the album since The Dixie Chicks was a new group to me (they had been performing for years prior) and I didn't know if the other songs would be as pleasing.

Well, later I heard "There's Your Trouble" and found the beat and melody very infectious indeed. So I decided to buy the CD on the merits of those two songs. Soon afterward, the hit, "You Were Mine," a beautiful and melancholy song about divorce was released. Following "You Were Mine," another country hit, "Tonight the Heartache's on Me" was released. This tune is also very catchy and much more country sounding than the previous hits mentioned, but very good nonetheless. Then there's the more universally appealing hit, "I Can Love You Better." This is a fun and peppy tune I love too.

The Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces" has become one of my favorites in my 1,000 CD collection. I have come to enjoy every song on the album. It's one of those handful of CDs in my collection that I can listen to from start to finish over and over again. I believe this CD will appeal to Country and Pop music lovers alike. The Dixie Chicks' follow-up album, "Fly" is good, but I don't believe it has the same magic and cohesiveness that this album exhibits. Enthusiastically recommended!

First off, let me say that I listen to ONLY country music. I don't see why people are saying that this CD is not country enough. It's packed with country songs, and while it does fit in with the crossover music that's popular today, it definitely stays within the country boundaries. I have both of the Dixie Chicks album's, and I prefer Wide Open Spaces over the newer album Fly. I think Wide Open Spaces is one of the best country albums available today. It combines upbeat, fun-loving songs with tender, heart-felt ballads. My personal favorites are Wide Open Spaces, Loving Arms, You Were Mine, Never Say Die, and Am I The Only One (who's ever felt this way). If you're considering purchasing a Dixie Chick's album for the first time, this one is the one you want. While Fly is a good album, it doesn't have the emotion and energy of Wide Open Spces. So purchase this album today, especially if you're a country music fan! You'll be glad you did!

I bought "Wide Open Spaces" on impulse, after hearing "There's Your Trouble" just once on VH1. The album was an instant hit with me, and "There's Your Trouble" remains my favourite track. The album provides quite a wide range of music styles, although the theme throughout the CD is country. This is the sort of CD that you are always in the mood for, and although a lot of the tracks are quite sad, they are not depressing. One of the best songs on the album is "Let 'Er Rip" as this comes about half way through, and provides a complete contrast to most of the CD.

I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves music, and it is definitely enjoyable to non-country music fans. However, if you fall in love with this CD, be wary of the follow-up CD, "Fly" as the Dixie Chicks style has changed dramatically

I absolutely hated country my whole life, with exception of Garth Brooks and Shania Twain. I mostly always listened to pop or alternative rock music...until I started noticing a change in my attitude and moods while I listened to that music. The lyrics of some of those alternative songs are so depressing and lifeless, I finally realized, I have my own problems, why do I need to listen to these jokers snivel? So a good friend of mine who always listened to country got me into country and for the last seven months, I haven't listened to anything else. But I have to admit, when I first heard the Dixie Chicks, I thought, "These are the girls I've been hearing so much about?" And then I noticed what a strange but unique voice the lead singer has. It actually grows on a person. But I heard Wide open spaces and there's your trouble and loved them. And when you were mine came out, that just caused me to go buy the cd, and I have yet to get sick of it. I've read all these reviews on here and someone said that their songs lack instrumental depth. I'd have to beg to differ. Listen to the last track. These girls kick butt to put it mildly. And I've also read people saying that the Dixie Chicks are more pop than country. NO WAY! I heard Wide Open Spaces on a pop station the other day without the fiddle in it, and with a pop beat and I have to say, it sounded ridiculous, because one hearing it can obviously tell it's a country song. There's no way to disguise that. Anyway, Dixie Chicks are great. I love their new song, Ready to Run. My boyfriend turns it up for me every time it comes on. Can't wait for "Fly"!

The Dixie Chicks had been kicking around the country music scene for years with a variety of personnel before they added Natalie Maines as lead singer and released "Wide Open Spaces" - their major label debut. The CD, of course, was a huge smash and established them as one of the biggest country groups ever. In fact, with over 12 million copies sold, "Wide Open Spaces" is the best-selling CD ever by a country group (#2 is their "Fly" CD). After they released this CD, the group also won the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for Vocal Group of the Year in 1999.

Five songs on the CD were major hits, starting with the "I Can Love You Better" (#7 in 1998), a playful up-tempo song. The group then scored three #1's in a row: "There's Your Trouble" (2 weeks in 1998), "Wide Open Spaces" (4 weeks in 1998), and "You Were Mine" (2 weeks in 1999). "Wide Open Spaces" has really become their signature song; it's a great sing-a-long about a girl's need to find her own place in the world. In addition, it won the CMA Award for Song of the Year. They finished with "Tonight the Heartaches on Me" (#6 in 1999), which is a very fun swing tune. Of note, "Let 'Er Rip" also scored some airplay and peaked at #64, although it wasn't released as an official single.

In addition to these hits, the CD is filled with terrific songs. "Loving Arms" has been a hit before for several artists, including Elvis Presley; the Chicks add some nice sweetness to it. Perhaps the prettiest ballad on the CD is the top-notch "Once You've Loved Somebody." I'm also impressed with "Give It Up or Let Me Go": a cover of a Bonnie Raiit song that the Chicks have made into a serious barn-burner.

I hadn't heard of the Dixie Chicks until this CD was released, so I don't have the bias against them that a few others seem to have; that is, thinking that the group "sold out." Although this CD is clearly more mainstream than their older work (which I've heard on TV shows), their music is still more country-oriented than that of many contemporary hit groups. I really admire their music, and this CD is a great listen.

They are pretty, young, giggling, outgoing, pleasant-looking, carefree, blonde-shining, musically and instrumentally talented with fine vocal performances, and above all, they are the next best thing that has ever happened to American country music collectively known as Dixie Chicks.

Their music is sweet, youthful, fresh, clear, beautiful, distinctive, optimistic, genuine, sincere and heart-touching.

Their lyrics, simple but not simplistic, are all about LIFE and all positive and negative things occurring to it within the test of time. And with their heavenly, beautiful vocals, they sing ( movingly or joyfully, depends ) about people having a good or even bad time, lost and found love, broken hearts, lovers apart, a small town girl on a journey to a more meaningful, rewarding, fulfilled life, and a couple of mom and pop misting up, sadly watching their beloved daughter gradually leave their sights for wide, open spaces.

With this unpretentious, sweet, tuneful album, Dixie Chicks help bringing country music back to the mainstream and proudly paving the way to newly bred Nashville acts to come in years ahead.

With the good, old-fashioned, horsesensed elements to Wide Open Spaces, they' ve successfully established as an essential country music group whose music on real life through its roller-coaster thicks and thins, ups and downs will always touches our hearts.

And that' s why when they sing, we always listen.

I prided myself for loving different kinds of music. No matter the genre one knows talent when they hear it, and the Dixie Chicks have it in spades. This is a wonderful CD with great music and lyrics. Some songs are deep and sensual, some just life's observations, and some are just plain fun. I hope the Dixie Chicks are here to stay.

There is something wonderful when music can capture a mood and a time and transcend the mundane,The Beach Boys and Beatles did it to name just two,and the Dixie Chicks have on this debut offering.Rarely have I heard a CD that delivers on the entirity of its duration such an infectious mixture of Bluegrass, West Texas swing,traditional country and rock n' roll,that even Patsy Cline would be clicking her boots in heaven.I am not a purist,but I am clapping my hands with delight to see that country is producing artists that are standouts in all genres.

This has something for everybody,from the traditionalist to the person who thinks country music started with the Eagles and ended with Shania Twain.The Dixie chicks are riding that wave out of Nashville that shows talent and country can be mainstream and can become a cross over success.They are the perfume and irreverence in a sea of cowboy hats,and that music just makes you feel good.

The line up changes prior to this release proved that you just have to have that right mix of chemistry to work.Natalie Maines was that missing ingredient and she delivers the vocal soul and mischief of the band.Emily Erwin and Martie Seidel are perfect foils and deliver the beat that higlights their bluegrass roots.The production is not restrictive and the girls have been given their heads here, which is not always an accepted thing in Nashville recordings. It worked excellently here.I thought I was down at the local honky tonk on Saturday night, and would you believe it I thought I saw Brian Wilson sitting next to me!!!!

This CD highlights what will always be the Dixie Chicks signature song,Wide Open Spaces,and it occurred in their debut offering.It is simply one of the best country oriented songs in the last twenty years.They received just recognition by the Grammy Award and overcame the Twain avalanche of 1999,and in doing so allowed country to remain country and not a washed out produced out shadow of its former self.

When a CD this fun and fresh comes along it seems inappropriate to be critical of its shortcomings,and to be honest there just arent any.It would be like saying the Beach boys didnt surf and they shouldnt be singing about it,loosen up this is country at its foot stomping and dancing best.

The freshness and naivity on this CD wasnt successfully translated on to Fly,but that is another story and another review.If you want to own one of the top 10 Country CDs of the last 10 years,and have it sound like that in the next 10 years,buy this now.I highly recommend this and give it the 5 stars.

Have to admit I'm a somewhat reluctant country music fan. One of my staff is a fan however, and she dared me to listen to it for 2 weeks.

I did, and have to confess I was certain that I would go crackers by the end of the week. On the fourth day of my trial, I heard "There's Your Trouble" and was sold.

The "Chicks" dish out a wonderfully refreshing sound, have incredible voices and downright thrilling harmonies. It's the only CD I leave in the changer when I switch the others.

What makes the CD even better, apart from the harmony and the arrangements which are beautifully done, is the fun they are so obviously having. It's contagious; you can't help but have some of it rub off on you. If we could all have as much fun at work as they seem to, we'd be set.

This CD is fun, wistful, and memory producing.

I would recommend this CD to anyone who A) Hates country music, B) Loves good music and C) Wants a good time and a treat for the most of the five senses.

Buy it, you won't be sorry!

PS: The cover is great too.

While I enjoy all of the Dixie Chicks' music, I was surprised to see on my iTunes library, that this was the CD of theirs that I have listened to the most! Although I usually claim to like "Fly" the best, I listened to this again and discovered that I actually do like "Wid Open Spaces" better! This CD is a non-stop fun-filled album, and it barely slows down the pace. Singles "There's Your Trouble", "Wide Open Spaces", and "You Were Mine" all hit #1 on the Country charts, while "I Can Love You Better" (my favorite from the album) and "Tonight The Heartache's On Me" both cracked the Top 10. This CD went on to become one of the biggest selling CDs in American history, selling out a whopping 12 million copies.

The disk starts out with the fun "I Can Love You Better", an indication of the great music to follow. The CD is filled with tunes that are very listener-friendly, and are all upbeat. With the exception of a few excellent ballads ("Loving Arms", "You Were Mine", and "Am I The Only One") the CD never loses pace. The slower songs however are not that easy to skip, and are great to listen to. The Chicks are releasing a new CD soon, and hopefully it will live up to the great precedent that they have already set with their past releases!! Enjoy!!!