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Product Description
Review
In February 2012, The Civil Wars – duo Joy Williams and John Paul White – won two Grammy Awards: Best Folk Album for their debut album, Barton Hollow, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for its title-track. It’s easy to hear why. Originally released in the States last year, said record’s love-torn, life-worn songs have finally dragged their weary, tired bones across the Atlantic just in time to soundtrack the onset of spring – or, rather, the end of winter. Because, in these original songs – and even in a bonus track, a quirky yet elegiac take on Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean – there’s a both a sense of finality and new beginnings, the ebb and flow of life and love.
Much of this is down to the interplay between Williams’ and White’s vocals – soft, dulcet, tentative whispers of musical conversation that, alone, sound scared and vulnerable but, when they sing together, are stronger and more powerful. Nowhere is this more evident than on the record’s highlight and centrepiece, Poison & Wine, a plaintive, forlorn swirl of conflicting emotions. "I don’t love you," the pair sing in unison on its searching, wistful chorus, "but I always will" – and immediately that paradox comes alive through the aching, trembling, brittle frame of the song and the defiance of its lyrics and vocal delivery. 20 Years is an equally stirring and haunting tribute to the past that cuts heart strings with each pluck of the guitar, while the gentle, stirring chug of C’est La Mort drifts like ashes scattered onto a river.
It’s not all tears and tragedy, though – the country jangle of the title-track, the neo-classical instrumental of The Violet Hour and the sparse waltz of Falling all add texture to the duo’s takes on that ageless, ever-inspiring theme of love. A timeless, anachronistic record, Barton Hollow could be from 30 years ago, or it could be from 30 years hence. What’s certain, though, is that you truly feel it in the here and now.
--Mischa Pearlman
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Product Description
CD Deluxe Version Incl. 6 Bonustracks
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Stan FREDO
Format:Audio CD
This is a very good 12-song album that encompasses pop, folk, Americana, classical music and blues. The songs have tunes and interesting lyrics. They are expertly performed and deliciously sung. If you liked Jenny & Johnny's I'm Having Fun Now, you will absolutely love this album.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By Hounddog
Format:Audio CD
This is simply the best new country set i've heard in a long ,long time. The vocal harmonies are haunting and accompanied by sparce yet fluid arrangements that hypnotise and draw you in. As a debut album they may have just given themselves a massive task to better it with a follow up album, that said I hope they are prolific composers and that a second album won't be long. I for one will buy it. Anyone who has Duhks, Nickel Creek or Crooked Still albums must add this to their collections.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Fran
Format:Vinyl
I heard the Civil Wars perform Barton Hollow on Later with Joules Holland and bought this album the next day - its the best song Ive heard and I strongly recommend it to everyone!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Harmony
Love this album. Arrived midday today and I've played it 4 times already. Doesn't have the raw edge of something like the Lumineers but their polished performance and seemingly... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Mr. E. B. Davies
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great music
Great music - one of the best albums of the year. I already have a digital version. The vinyl was a little warped and a touch crackly - not enough to reject it but disappointing... Read more
Published 1 month ago by entdgc
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Justified
While i appriciate the cute harmonies and presentation, this is a cheesy country album by a duo who have been hyped up by a lot of people who like the edges cut off their... Read more
Published 1 month ago by K. J. Turner
4.0 out of 5 stars
Barton Hollow - a real pleasure
This is a thoughtful, well produced album in a style that I love. It is an accoustic pleasure with the voices and harmonies of these 2 artists really wonderful.
Published 1 month ago by L.Cusick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth a listen
Everyone should listen to this album at least once. All the tracks are beautiful. Their voices complement each other perfectly.
Published 1 month ago by JRS
5.0 out of 5 stars
CD
My elderly parents required this item for a gift for my brother. They were unable to find it in the High Street so were very pleased when I was able to acquire it for them with the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephanie Johns
5.0 out of 5 stars
Civil wars a must Brilliant
Great CD from Civil wars they must do another on soon as i have played this endlessly get one now
Published 1 month ago by Mr A Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
I just this album, I could play this on repeat all day. Really worth the money, and highly recommended.
Brilliant!
Brilliant!
Published 1 month ago by Miss A J E Price
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb album
This was my families album of the year when it came out - beautiful tunes and glorious harmonies. Very relaxing as well, no wonder it won awards, even after many listenings I still... Read more
Published 2 months ago by TimF
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barton Hollow.
Really enjoyed this CD. If you enjoy country and folk music this is for you, I was given this as a gift for Christmas. I would recommend this CD to friends.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs D M Weager
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