As a whole, the album is more subdued than Fly (only four songs, and the instrumental "Lil' Jack Slade" can be considered uptempo), and often more introspective (though the Chicks' collective sense of humor is still present in "White trash wedding"). Perhaps reflecting the album's title, perhaps reflecting upon changed perspectives in post-9/11 America, many of the songs convey a longing for love, the simple things in life, and the comforts of home.

In this environment, almost everything here is a highlight, but the particular standouts are "Travelin' soldier", "A home", "Godspeed (Sweet dreams)", and the cover of the Stevie Nicks-penned Fleetwood Mac tune "Landslide". The emotion in the performances is genuine, and Natalie Maines' voice has seldom sounded better.

A highly recommended album, whatever your tastes (which I add because I personally do not like much country music).

(A note to those of you with HDCD-compatible CD players: Though the back cover indicates this is an HDCD encoded disc, it is not.)


Feels Like Home   January 17, 2004
Randy Brooks (Baltimore, Maryland United States)
106 out of 116 found this review helpful

I am not a country fan, as a black man in the inner city country CD's are the last youd expect to find but in my 330+ collection of CD's you find (2) Shania Twain Faith Hill Leann Womack and the Dixie Chicks. Home. If you pull this CD off the shelf youll notice the disc is missing. It's because I actually travel with this one. This is the one of the few disc I own I can listen to from top to bottom. This is absolutely amazing yet simple. Heartfelt yet Enjoyable. It starts with Long Time Gone which has infectious vocals and great lyrics. Landslide though is the charmer here. On a personal note this song has allowed me to reflect on a lot of personal relationships and friendships. Awesome Awesome Awesome and doesn't matter if its the live version the album version or the Sheryl Crow remix . I listen to this song a lot on Sundays or when i'm sad or reflecting and ready to work on my novel. This song is picture perfect and they are to be commended for it. Traveling Soldier is an awesome song that tells a story and as the Dixie Chicks narrate it I swear i can close my eyes and visualize it like a movie. I Believe in Love is perfect perfect perfect perfect perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of my favorites on the album definitely. More love is great. Godspeed is awesome and i let that song rock me to sleep many nights. Top of the World is a great song (i hate to sound like a broken record but all of teh acoustic slow songs are great). This album minus the country sounds very Jewel (Acoustic)/Sheryl Crow very very very very pleased and surprised once i got it after seeing the video for Landslide.

This CD is so awesome I've scratched it and need a new one.

I've also since purchased the Live CD Top of The World

Need I say more


Country Perfection -- a must own!   January 1, 2003
J M (Somewhere in Ft. Worth, TX)
57 out of 63 found this review helpful

This is my first Dixie Chicks album. They've been so highly recommended that I had to give it a try, especially after catching strains of 'Traveling Soldier' on the radio.

The Chicks really hit their fans hard on this one, because I was simply blown away by it! It's perfection to listen to, even for pop/mainstream fans. There's a heavy bluegrass feel to the entire album that doesn't distract non-country fans of the Chicks.

'Long Time Gone' is a great choice for a first single -- it's easy to listen to, with a great, catchy hook. 'Landslide' is quite possibly the best remake I've ever heard of Stevie Nicks's classic song, and the Chicks certainly do it justice! 'Traveling Soldier' is another favorite, with a very sad story-song that tugs at the heart. Their voices blend together perfectly melody-wise, and it gives me shivers just to hear it. 'White Trash Wedding' is just pure bluegrass fun, and reminds me a bit of 'Sin Wagon' from a previous record. 'Truth No 2', 'Godspeed', 'More Love' are all amazing as well.

To those on the cusp of buying this album, and are currently undecided, you should definitely go out and get 'Home'. I was not a Chicks fan before and now I think I'm going to have to go get their other two albums. They are 3 of the most talented women I've ran across musically in quite a long time, and 'Home' is a pleasurable listen.


Brilliant bluegrass takes Chicks back home   January 13, 2005
Peter Durward Harris (Leicester England)
30 out of 33 found this review helpful

Home is a good title for this album, as it finds the Dixie Chicks making the most of their bluegrass roots. This outstanding album begins with Long time gone, a great song about family memories. Next comes an incredible cover of Landslide, a song written by Stevie Nicks, best remembered as a member of Fleetwood Mac. Travelin' soldier is a sad song about a woman receiving letters from a soldier who gets killed in Vietnam. Those three songs set the standard for the album but there are many other fine songs here including the title track (a reflective ballad), More love (another excellent ballad) and Top of the world (not a cover of the Carpenters' classic - this is a Patty Griffin song). The other songs are also excellent.

While their two previous commercial releases, Wide open spaces and Fly, had clear bluegrass influences, those albums had a very obvious contemporary edge that is missing from this album. The return to a more traditional acoustic sound will appeal to some while alienating others, as other reviews show. As one who first discovered this group via one of their independent albums (Little ol' cowgirl), I love this album although it is still very different from that early album.

Bluegrass fans will love this but many other people will enjoy it too.


More Than 5 Stars   September 2, 2002
Maren Cuykendall (Coralville, IA United States)
22 out of 24 found this review helpful

The Dixie Chicks have already done much for country music, and just plain music in general. Three girls who are a real band...they play their own instruments, write, sing, and can perform just as well. It's nice to have an act in music that is not afraid to be themselves. The Chicks weren't thinking about making another diamond selling album like their previous two when making this one. In fact, they never thought anyone would hear these songs. This is raw Dixie Chicks...it's the real thing. How refreshing-in a day in age when most artists sound alike and are clones of someone else. "Home" is the best CD I've ever listened to. I want to give it more than 5 stars because I've given other wonderful albums 5 stars...but this one is better. I give it 7. I don't think I'll ever hear another album as crafted as this one. Let's get down to the music. Completely acoustic, raw, emotional, this album has a little bit of everything. The Chicks have not lost their sense of humor, as evidenced in the tune they wrote together "White Trash Wedding". "Long Time Gone", their current hit single is another uptempo song that gets the blood flowing. But this album is more about ballads. And these ballads are good. "Travelin' Soldier", a story song about a man going away to war leaving behind the love of a woman will make about anyone weap. "I Believe In Love" is a tribute to love itself. Perhaps the two standout tracks on this album are "Godspeed", written by Radney Foster and "Top of the World" by Patty Griffin. "Godspeed" is a lullaby tune that will touch anyone who has been away from their child. And "Top of the World" is so moving, that after nearly 50 listenings, I still get choked up. It takes talent to move people that much...just with a song. And then there's the cover of Stevie Nicks' "Landslide". The Chicks do it very well and give it a relaxed, almost magical feeling. Please pick up this album. It's a rarity these days to find something so genuine. There are other good albums...but this one is better-by a landslide.