VOA标准英语2010年-Two Dixie Chicks Form Court Yard Hound

Four years ago, the Dixie Chicks decided¹ to take a break from making music.  Two of the three members became restless, however, and formed a duo as a side project.  They have now released a debut² album.

Sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison decided to form Court Yard Hounds after Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines extended the two-year hiatus the group had agreed on in 2007.  Emily had a collection of songs she wrote while going through a divorce from singer-songwriter Chris Robison in 2008.  She planned to convince other artists to record the tracks until Martie insisted Emily sing them herself. 

Court Yard Hounds returned to their early musical roots on many of the songs.  Most of the tracks lean toward folk, including this duet the duo recorded with fellow Texan Jakob Dylan, "See You In The Spring."

Court Yard Hounds took their name from the novel "City of Thieves."  The album was recorded at Martie's home studio in Austin, Texas.  Although Emily and Martie say a new Dixie Chicks album will come in the not-too-distant future, they will also put out another Court Yard Hounds collection.

Emily admits it took some time to adjust to being a lead singer.  She says, "It can be intimidating³ when you sing with someone with the power that Natalie has.  Martie and I have always been harmony singers, so you take your place in the mix. It was a huge learning curve for both of us."

The duo made its first public appearance at the recent South By Southwest Music Festival in Texas.  Next month, Emily and Martie will reunite with Natalie Maines to perform as the Dixie Chicks.  They're scheduled to play eight U.S. stadium shows with the Eagles.  Court Yard Hounds will stay on the road, appearing at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on June 18 and in 13 cities on Sarah McLachlan's upcoming Lilith Fair tour.

The first single, "The Coast," from Court Yard Hounds' debut album was inspired by a popular vacation spot, the Gulf⁴ Coast in South Texas.
 

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

3 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。