In 2010, Dixie Chicks temporarily decommissioned their popular moniker. But they hadn’t gone away you know. Instead, they sold over 800,000 albums as Court Yard Hounds.
This tally is of course dwarfed by the success of the Chicks, which in itself is dwarfed by the preposterous controversy that exploded when Natalie Maines said onstage in London, “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war (in Iraq), this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas”.
Maines is seemingly pursuing her own career now and has left sisters Emily Robinson and Martie Maguire to plough their own furrow as CYH. It remains to be seen if they ever reunite for an offer they can’t refuse (playing George W. Bush’s
birthday party, perhaps). I suppose it’s a case of never say never.
Amelita is wholesome and sweet, but there’s pain in these songs too: the agony of heartbreak and divorce. It’s all wrapped in a glossy, saccharine sheen, occasionally far too sweet for comfort. Still, the musicianship throughout is exceedingly fine. These girls craft a lovely suite of tunes, music that could only very loosely be categorised as contemporary country.
Speaking of ‘divorce’, ‘Divide’ appears to tackle the vexed issues of Emily’s split with country singer Charlie Robison. It ultimately concludes on an optimistic note. The rest of the album is equally uplifting.

Key Track: 'Amelita'