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Having never been a really big fan of the Dixie Chicks, I only picked up 2006's TAKING THE LONG WAY for two reasons...first, I thought the pairing of the group with producer Rick Rubin was an interesting one. Second, I felt I needed to support a group who took SO much heat (I mean, c'mon, DEATH THREATS?!?) just for voicing their opinions. The fact that I loved the album as much as I did was just a pleasant added bonus.
I was just as intrigued (and equally pleased!) when I read about sisters Emily Robison and Martie Mcguire's side project, COURT YARD HOUNDS. This infectious amalgamation should get under the skin ~ and stay there! ~ of anyone who loves pop, rock, country, bluegrass, Americana and, especially, Sheryl Crow.
Things open on a gentle, relaxed note with the subdued, albeit sublime, "Skyline." Anchored by an arrangement that literally floats out of the speakers, Robison's lead vocal is delicate, yet steely. Toss in some bittersweet lyrics ("What am I doin' here/In such a lonely place?/Birds fly below/I'm high up in my cage") and you have a powerhouse of an album opener.
"The Coast" is one of my favorite cuts off of CYH....there's just an exuberant joyfulness to the track that wins you over right from the first listen. Robison's lead vocal simply soars, while the arrangement bops along at a finger-popping gait. This track is pop music at it's finest, sheer aural perfection....and a WHOLE lot of fun!
There's a smooth, easy-going give and take vibe to "Delight (Something New Under The Sun)." When things amp up for the chorus, well, it feels natural and real. There's an overall ebb and flow to the cut that's just mesmerizing...by the time you get to that bridge...WOW! One of the disc's nicest moments.
Things take a 180 with "See You In The Spring", an aching duet with Jakob Dylan. This story of a doomed bi-coastal romance sports a stunning pair of vocals, a heartfelt arrangement and powerful lyrics ("Well, babe, can't you give it time?/I'll keep you warm at night/This town's all I know/And I could see you in my life"). Lovely.
And then there's "Ain't No Son." This bluegrass strummer soon morphs into a blistering rocker, as it tells the tale of a bitter father who can't accept who his son is. Great vocal, great instrumentation....but it's the lyrics that really hit hard here: "Stranger, stranger on the wall/When the neighbors come to call/I just don't know what to say/So I put you away/This time I won't leave a trace/I'll fill up the empty space." Another winner!
There's a striking similarity throughout much of COURT YARD HOUNDS to a lot of Sheryl Crow's work, and nowhere is that more evident than on "Fairytale." Simple, sincere, honest, real....Robinson's vocal just tugs at your heartstrings. And when she gets to the closing lines of "Every girl wants the fairytale/I guess I do too"...well, they just snap!
"I Miss You" is chock full of silly lyrics ("I miss you/I can't wait to kiss you"...really? REALLY??), but the arrangement is so melodic and tuneful that you can't help but forgive the track it's lyrical transgressions. Add in a lead vocal to the mix that is both sultry and sly and a throwaway cut becomes an enchanting winner.
Martie Mcguire takes center stage on the gauzy "Gracefully." Blessed with a strong lead vocal, haunting arrangement and mournful instrumentation, you're left wanting more from her. Here's hoping that, unlike Jean Millington and the work she's done with sister June since their days in Fanny, and Nancy Wilson with big sister Ann in Heart, Mcguire won't take such a back seat to Robison on future CYH projects.
"Delicate" is also the best way to describe the gorgeous "April's Love." With it's minimal arrangement (love the cello!) and feathery lead vocal, there's just something hypnotic about the cut. Pointed lyrics ("You didn't take a stand/You didn't hold my hand/You should have held on tight") round out another real gem.
"Then Again" is another one of my favorite cuts...there's just a quirky, clever edge to the track! The arrangement just kind of chugs along, while Robison's vocal has a nice little lilt to it, sort of coy, kind of playful. All of this (barely) masks the sardonic lyrics ("And just to keep the peace and quiet/I'd forfeit my peace of mind/Then again, I never did understand me"). A powerful blend of light...and dark.
However, the disc's true high point has to be the rollicking "It Didn't Make A Sound." Part bluegrass shuffle, part boogie-woogie stomper, this rave-up's fun from start to finish (I particularly love that juke-jammin' piano!!). Blend in another sexy lead vocal and you have one of the Top 25 recordings of the last decade. Mark my word, this is a mass appeal hit just waiting to happen! LOVE....IT!!!
Things wind down with the touching "Fear Of Wasted Time", an ode to evolution, change, quiet moments and not wasting one second once you realize how precious each one is. Ethereal vocals, muted, yet sweet, instrumentation and insightful lyrics ("Time might pass me by/If I close my eyes/So I'm on the next plane/Leavin' town") all meld together in a perfectly cohesive manner. The perfect way to end an already stunning effort!
And COURT YARD HOUNDS is just that, a stunning piece of work that proves Emily Robison and Martie Mcguire are true contenders. Any thoughts anyone may have that these two are simply that other Chick's back-up band have now, once and for all, been squashed like a bug on a Texas windshield. I, for one, can't wait to see what these sisters do next! (As with all my reviews, I'm giving the disc an extra half a star for including the lyrics...a real rarity in releases this year!).
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Top reviews from other countries
Jan Atle Steinsland
Item received as expected. All ok.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 4, 2020Chris C
It's not the Chicks but you will enjoy.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 7, 2014
