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Robison and Maguire prove capable of crafting galloping, catchy choruses for such songs as "The Coast," "Ain't No Son," "It Didn't Make a Sound" and "I Miss You."
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Though neither boasts Maines’ forcefulness, they invest these tales of severed connections with an emotional intensity that elevates even weaker tracks like “Fairytale” and “Then Again.”
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Quiet cuts like ''Skyline'' emphasize their down-home vocals. But ''The Coast'' is sunny pop, while ''Ain't No Son'' rocks harder than ''Goodbye Earl.''
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That the songs are solidly constructed gives Court Yard Hounds ample opportunity to play around with structure and production.
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The songs and the sentiments ring of honest emotion, but not consistently of inspired lyric writing, and for all the well-considered inner reflection, you wish these Hounds had channeled a bit more of Maines' bark and bite.