Artist:  Court Yard Hounds
Title:  Court Yard Hounds
Label:  Columbia Records

Take two beautiful women, lots of folk, some rock, throw in a bit of life experience and what do you get? Court Yard Hounds, featuring sister duo Martie Maguire and Emily Robison—two thirds of the GRAMMY award-winning group, the Dixie Chicks.

Natalie Maines, lead singer of the accomplished trio, has taken a temporary hiatus from the music industry, though the Chicks will perform together in a brief, six-show tour with the Eagles this summer. The sisters say they "got the itch" to create music again and although supportive, Maines was not ready to jump back into the songwriting saddle. The result? A new name (taken from a best-selling novel by David Benioff) and 12 new songs tempered with the wholesome lead vocals of Robison. Her equally talented sister backs her up with intricately woven harmonies only blood relations could provide.

It's no secret that much of the content was birthed out of Robison's 2008 divorce from country singer Charlie Robison, as she stated publicly that it was "fertile ground for writing." The album begins softly with a journey toward comfort in "Skyline," then "The Coast" paints a picture of escape to carefree relaxation where "nothin' ever seems to matter." However, the Hounds quickly transition to "Ain't No Son," a rocking social commentary on parents who chastise their children for being gay, which is an abrupt change in tone. Nevertheless, the rest of the album resonates with familiar themes of longing and the search for self.

Tunes like "See You in the Spring" (a duet with Jakob Dylan), "Fairytale," and "Gracefully," (the only song where Maguire sings lead) reflect struggles of compromise, romantic realism, and striving to express and understand oneself. The record ends powerfully with, "Fear of Wasted Time," a carpe diem song where Robison sings of watching every frame of life. None of these songs end happily ever after, but are thought provoking and leave hopefulness for a happier ending—one day.

Overall, the sisters seem to address life's difficulties without making it seem like we accidentally stumbled across their diaries. After years of lurking in the background these Court Yard Hounds have finally stepped into the spotlight with an honesty and candor that is endearing and more rootsy than their Dixie Chick days. And though Maines has carried the group's musical torch for many years, two thirds of the Chicks aren't half bad at all.



**This review first published on June 10, 2010.