Court Yard Hounds performs July 17 at Lilith Fair at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater, 19100 S. Ridgeland, in Tinley Park, Ill.
iMusic: It takes two
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 14:33
Court Yard Hounds
Sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison go from being two-thirds of the Dixie Chicks to being the Court Yard Hounds on their eponymous Columbia debut. We already know they are gifted musicians, thanks to their work with fellow Dixie Chick Natalie Maines. With assorted guest musicians, Court Yard Hounds fulfills the promise of previous DC discs that found the trio expanding on their modern country sound. The edgy “Delight (Something New)” and the fury of “Ain’t No Son” (sung from the perspective of the father of a gay son) provide a counterpart to the bare bones acoustic course of “April’s Love” and the front-porch plucking of “See You In The Spring” (a Jakob Dylan duet). If Sheryl Crow doesn’t cover “The Coast,” which sounds like it was written for her, she’s a fool.
Beach House
With “Teen Dream” (Sub Pop), Baltimore duo Beach House (Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally) expand on the promise of their stunning sophomore release “Devotion.” “Teen Dream” sets their route on a more commercial path, beginning with the alluring “Zebra.” “Silver Soul” has a Cocteau Twins flavor, while the woozy “Norway” might have you going for the Dramamine (and that’s meant to be a compliment). “10 Mile Stereo” and “Take Care” are also incomparable examples of why it’s worth spending time with Beach House. A double-disc set includes a DVD with music vids for all 10 tracks.
High Places
Another male/female duo, High Places goes for a more dance-oriented slice of the pie on “High Places vs. Mankind” (Thrill Jockey). Funky and frigid, this is hat-and-gloves music. You’ll probably be able to see your breath while dancing to “The Longest Shadows,” “When It Comes” and the dingy dub of “The Most Beautiful Name.”
The Bird and The Bee
After releasing a trio of deliriously retro-inspired albums, The Bird and The Bee (a.k.a. the equally busy Inara George and Greg Kurstin) does more time traveling on “Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates” (Blue Note). Hall & Oates are treated with reverence by The Bird and The Bee. The pair’s interpretations of “Rich Girl,” “Kiss On My List” and “Sara Smile,” among others, are alternately soaring and sweet.
She & Him
The pairing of hot actress Zooey Deschanel and hipster musician M. Ward as She & Him was a match made in modern pop heaven. Their first album, aptly called “Volume One” was a vintage-veined country pop tune treasure and “Volume Two” (Merge) picks up where its predecessor left off. “Volume Two” improves on the formula. The duo’s chemistry ignites a near-perfect set of songs, including infectious highlights such as “In The Sun” and “Over It Over Again,” as well as covers of NRBQ’s “Ridin’ In My Car” and Skeeter Davis’ “Gonna Get Along Without You Now.”
Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson
Deschanel and Ward aren’t the only singing actress and singer/songwriter duo out there. Scarlett Johansson joined forces with Pete Yorn for the “Break Up” (Atco) disc. Yorn takes the lead for most of the disc, but on the tracks on which Johansson can be heard in equal measure, such as “Relator” and “Clean,” or where she dominates, as in “I Am The Cosmos,” he is a generous performer in terms of sharing the focus.
Broken Bells
The latest collaborative effort by Danger Mouse/Brian Burton finds the multifaceted artist teaming up with James Mercer of The Shins to form Broken Bells. To the guys’ credit, their self-titled Columbia album makes good use of their respective talents, while subtly reminding us from whence they came. That is a feat – making something new without forsaking the old. Memorable tracks include “The High Road,” “The Ghost Inside” (tell me you can’t hear traces of Gorillaz and Gnarls Barkley here!) and “The Mall & Misery.”
Snow & Voices
Like Beach House, mixed gender duo Snow & Voices inhabit the dream pop realm on their gorgeous album “Anything That Moves” (Elastic Ruby). “Maybe Finland,” “Everything Coming Apart” and “Blue” are a gorgeous trio of songs that lull the listener without putting them to sleep. That’s good, because the fittingly named “I Am A Storm” blows in to kick your ass. The heavy-lidded “Mistress” is also lovely.
Stay Connected