Amelita

Amelita

• Court Yard Hounds- Amelita
• COLUMBIA RECORDS/SONY
• Record Label: Columbia
• Country Of Release: NLD
• Year Of Release: 2013

After releasing their self-titled debut, Court Yard Hounds, to much critical acclaim, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire are at it again. Containing 11 new tracks, Robison and Maguire took a different approach with Amelita than their debut album in 2010. This album contains a new perspective, which is due in part to time passed since Robison's divorce. "I've been freed of all of those time-heals-everything kind of things," says Emily Robison. "Now, I've opened up to other ideas and ways of looking at life and the world."<br><br>"I think it's not only a more hopeful album, but it's more … well fun," adds Robinson.<br><br>The new direction is apparent on title track "Amelita," which has a breezy south-of-the-border sound, or "Phoebe," which calls in a frenetic, anxious melody, and chillingly close harmonies. Lead single, "Sunshine," co-written by acclaimed singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke along with Martin Strayer and Alex Dezen, oozes with irony as the girls flash their carefully manicured claws through silken harmonies.<br><br>Robison's vocals captivate listeners as she sings lead on most tracks, while Maguire co-wrote seven of the 11 songs on the album, penned "Road You Take" herself, and sings lead on "Guy Like You," which she wrote with guitarist Martin Strayer. <br><br>The girls teamed up with the same producer, Jim Scott, who they've had a true connection with since their first album. Surrounding themselves with Jim and guitarist Martin Strayer, who was also an integral part of the first album, the girls took a comfortable and pro-active approach to creating their music this time around. "I think we've approached it differently because we felt like okay, we are a band. We aren't just two ex-Dixie Chicks anymore, we're a band and we like our sound and we're going to continue to do this and hopefully get better at it, and share something new this time around," said Maguire.<br><br>The Court Yard Hounds' new album is a clear statement of who the girls are as artists, defining their sound as a band, with soaring songs that are personal, yet familiar and widely relatable.