Gaslighter (album)
Gaslighter is the eighth studio album by American country band the Chicks. It was released on July 17, 2020, by Columbia Records. Produced by Jack Antonoff and the Chicks, it is the group's first album in fourteen years, and first to be released under their new name (though some physical pressings of the album still carry the "Dixie Chicks" name.) The album was preceded by the release of three singles: "Gaslighter", "Julianna Calm Down", and "March March". The album received critical acclaim.
Gaslighter
July 17, 2020
2018–2020
- Laurel House and Electric Lady Studios (New York)
- Westlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles)
- Henson Recording Studios (Hollywood)
46:54
- Jack Antonoff
- The Chicks
- Teddy Geiger
Background[edit]
The Chicks began to hint at a new album in June 2018 when Natalie Maines posted several photos from the recording studio on Instagram.[2] While Maines and her bandmates Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire continued to drop small hints that new music might be in the works, they did not confirm that an album was planned until a year later when Maines posted a video clip to Instagram in which the trio took turns saying, "Dixie Chicks. Album. Coming." This was followed by producer Jack Antonoff saying, "Someday."[3]
In August 2019, in the midst of their divorce, Maines' ex-husband Adrian Pasdar asked the court to give him access to all of Maines' unreleased music over concerns it might violate a confidentiality clause in their prenuptial agreement, although he had previously argued in divorce proceedings that the couple's prenuptial agreement was invalid, claiming that Maines should owe him financial support. Pasdar stated that he wanted to know if any of the unreleased material might contain lyrics that pertain to their breakup. Maines' legal team filed a response to Pasdar's new motion, saying that if he succeeds in overturning the validity of the agreement, it also invalidates the confidentiality clause.[4] Their divorce was finalized in December[5] after Maines and Pasdar settled out of court.
In September 2019, Maines revealed during her Spiritualgasm podcast that the album would be titled Gaslighter.[6] She went on to say that the album was originally planned to be something simple, like an album of covers, to fulfill their contract with Sony, but after her divorce from Pasdar, she had been inspired to start writing songs again.[6] She said, "When I started getting a divorce, I had a lot to say, so that kind of sparked me being ready [to make new music]. Songwriting is really hard for me, and I think, for many years, I didn't want to analyze my life or my relationship. I was just in it and dedicated and devoted...I just was not ready to open up like that."[6] During the same podcast, host Sterling Jones mentions a song titled "Go It Alone," which Maines revealed is actually titled "My Best Friend's Weddings".[7] The title of the album refers to gaslighting.[8]
On June 25, 2020, the band changed their name to the Chicks, dropping "Dixie",[9] which referenced any of the American South, the Antebellum South, or the American Mason–Dixon line. The name change followed criticism that the word had connotations of American slavery.[9][10]
Commercial performance[edit]
On the US Billboard 200, Gaslighter debuted at number 3 with 84,000 album-equivalent units, becoming the band's fifth top 5 album and first in the streaming era. Including 71,000 album sales, it was the best-selling album in its debut week.[40]