It was quiet for a while around Natalie Maines, the front woman of The Dixie Chicks. For seven years she hardly spoke up - was it perhaps because of all the threats and boycotts? - but with Mother, her first solo album, she hits back hard. Helped by producer Ben Harper, she manages to produce a heavier rock sound than what she made with her band before. Because Maines rarely writes her own songs,
… she left it to others, including her producer. Album opener Without You is by Eddie Vedder, the title track is a Pink Floyd cover. Maines performs that song in a formidable way and also knows how to give it a sensitive own twist. Her rough side can be heard on Silver Bell (written by Patti Griffin & Adam Steinberg), but a fragile Maines makes the most impression, especially in the Jeff Buckley cover Lover You Should've Come Over. Mother is a versatile album, with a perfect mix of emotion, passion and playing pleasure. It was well worth the wait. (BvdV)more
