THE CIVIL WARS
''BARTON HOLLOW''
FEBRUARY 1 2011
40:01
1/20 Years
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:01
2/I've Got This Friend
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:23
3/C'est La Mort
John Paul White / Joy Williams/2:29
4/To Whom It May Concern
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:31
5/Poison & Wine
Chris Lindsey / John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:39
6/My Father's Father
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:20
7/Barton Hollow
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:25
8/The Violet Hour
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:25
9/Girl With the Red Balloon
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:49
10/Falling
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:58
11/Forget Me Not
John Paul White / Joy Williams/2:56
12/Birds of a Feather
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:05
Barry Bales /Bass (Acoustic)
John Catchings /Cello
J.T. Corenflos /Guitar (Electric)
David Davidson /Violin
Dan Dugmore /Pedal Steel
Tim Lauer /Keyboard Bass, Keyboards, Organ, Synthesizer
Andy Leftwich /Fiddle, Mandolin
Ken Lewis /Drums, Percussion, Tambourine
Jerry McPherson /Guitar (Electric)
Charlie Peacock /Piano (Electric), Trumpet
John Paul White /Banjo, Bass, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Resonator), Vocals
Joy Williams /Bells, Organ, Piano, Vocals
REVIEW
by Andrew Leahey
Joy Williams and John Paul White aren’t a couple, but they certainly sound like they’re in love, singing together with the sort of familiarity that only seems to exist between couples and siblings. On Barton Hollow, their studio debut as the Civil Wars, the two trace each other’s melodies with close harmonies that never fail to lose their romance, even on breakup tunes like “Falling.” It’s an organic, folk-pop sound not unlike the one made by the Swell Season, another boy/girl duo with a talent for making heartbreaking Americana. If the Civil Wars are America’s answer to that band, then “Poison & Wine” is their “Falling Slowly.” An aching, gorgeous tribute to a relationship on the rocks, it’s one of the few tracks to include more than an acoustic guitar, with some piano and soft drums also making their way into the mix. Even so, the focus remains on the band’s vocals, which are easily the best instruments on Barton Hollow. Those who don’t like rootsy ballads are in for some slim pickings, since Barton Hollow shines its brightest whenever the tempos slow, the lights dim, and the voices rise up. But the title track, with its outlaw lyrics and swanky Southern groove, is a nice change from the norm, and “I’ve Got This Friend” finds a balance between both camps. Good stuff.
BIOGRAPHY
by Chris True
A folk-pop duo made up of guitarist John Paul White and vocalist Joy Williams, the Civil Wars made a quick name for themselves with the release of a digital album, Live at Eddie's Attic, in 2009. The Poison & Wine EP followed later that year, and the duo partnered up with producer Charlie Peacock to begin recording a full-length album in 2010. The result, Barton Hollow, was released in February 2011, topping the iTunes charts and cracking Billboard's Top 20 during its first week.
''BARTON HOLLOW''
FEBRUARY 1 2011
40:01
1/20 Years
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:01
2/I've Got This Friend
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:23
3/C'est La Mort
John Paul White / Joy Williams/2:29
4/To Whom It May Concern
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:31
5/Poison & Wine
Chris Lindsey / John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:39
6/My Father's Father
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:20
7/Barton Hollow
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:25
8/The Violet Hour
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:25
9/Girl With the Red Balloon
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:49
10/Falling
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:58
11/Forget Me Not
John Paul White / Joy Williams/2:56
12/Birds of a Feather
John Paul White / Joy Williams/3:05
Barry Bales /Bass (Acoustic)
John Catchings /Cello
J.T. Corenflos /Guitar (Electric)
David Davidson /Violin
Dan Dugmore /Pedal Steel
Tim Lauer /Keyboard Bass, Keyboards, Organ, Synthesizer
Andy Leftwich /Fiddle, Mandolin
Ken Lewis /Drums, Percussion, Tambourine
Jerry McPherson /Guitar (Electric)
Charlie Peacock /Piano (Electric), Trumpet
John Paul White /Banjo, Bass, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Resonator), Vocals
Joy Williams /Bells, Organ, Piano, Vocals
REVIEW
by Andrew Leahey
Joy Williams and John Paul White aren’t a couple, but they certainly sound like they’re in love, singing together with the sort of familiarity that only seems to exist between couples and siblings. On Barton Hollow, their studio debut as the Civil Wars, the two trace each other’s melodies with close harmonies that never fail to lose their romance, even on breakup tunes like “Falling.” It’s an organic, folk-pop sound not unlike the one made by the Swell Season, another boy/girl duo with a talent for making heartbreaking Americana. If the Civil Wars are America’s answer to that band, then “Poison & Wine” is their “Falling Slowly.” An aching, gorgeous tribute to a relationship on the rocks, it’s one of the few tracks to include more than an acoustic guitar, with some piano and soft drums also making their way into the mix. Even so, the focus remains on the band’s vocals, which are easily the best instruments on Barton Hollow. Those who don’t like rootsy ballads are in for some slim pickings, since Barton Hollow shines its brightest whenever the tempos slow, the lights dim, and the voices rise up. But the title track, with its outlaw lyrics and swanky Southern groove, is a nice change from the norm, and “I’ve Got This Friend” finds a balance between both camps. Good stuff.
BIOGRAPHY
by Chris True
A folk-pop duo made up of guitarist John Paul White and vocalist Joy Williams, the Civil Wars made a quick name for themselves with the release of a digital album, Live at Eddie's Attic, in 2009. The Poison & Wine EP followed later that year, and the duo partnered up with producer Charlie Peacock to begin recording a full-length album in 2010. The result, Barton Hollow, was released in February 2011, topping the iTunes charts and cracking Billboard's Top 20 during its first week.
