Court Yard Hounds, ‘Amelita’ – Album Stream

The Court Yard Hounds are releasing their sophomore studio effort, 'Amelita,' on July 16, but they're letting readers of The Boot hear the entire album early.

Sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire founded Court Yard Hounds in 2009 when their Dixie Chicks bandmate, Natalie Maines, was reluctant about doing a new project. They released their self-titled debut in 2010 on Columbia Records to critical and commercial success. They say the new 11-track album is a turn in a different direction.

With her divorce now behind her, Robison has a new focus. “I’ve been freed of all of those time-heals-everything kind of things,” she says in a press release. “Now, I’ve opened up to other ideas and ways of looking at life and the world.”

Maguire adds, “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."

Though they still perform sporadically with Maines as the Dixie Chicks, Robison and Maguire will spend the rest of this year performing as Court Yard Hounds and promoting 'Amelita.' Get their live schedule here.

'Amelita' is available for pre-order here.

Listen to 'Amelita' by Court Yard Hounds