Review: Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars

Mar 182012

It’s not often a folk duo with little more than guitar and drums can keep me mesmerized all the way through a CD, but Joy Williams and John Paul White manage to do just that on The Civil Wars’ first major release, Barton Hollow. The chemistry between the two and the interplay of their voices pulls out deep, entrenched humanity coming to the surface. Highlights for me are “20 Years,” “I’ve Got This Friend,” “Poison & Wine,” and “Barton Hollow.”