The benefits of landing a tune on a prime-time drama can obviously be plentiful, and make no mistake, The Civil Wars, a duo out of Nashville have certainly been reaping those riches in the form of monumental buzz and sold out club shows all over the country.
Of course, the side of that which isnt as enviable, is that people will often look no further beyond the tune that spoke to them during their favorite episode of Greay’s Anatomy. In the case of the Civil Wars, it was their moving and sweepingly dramatic “Poison & Wine” that found its way onto the iPods of so many night-time drama fans.
Formed in 2008 in Nashville, this duo has been building a name for themselves and when it came time to record the Barton Hallow, noted producer Charlie Peacock was recruited.
The harmonies between Joy Williams and John Paul White have a dark sweetness to them that grows even darker as gothic-folk arrangements envelope them. Never fear, things don’t stay stark for the whole record. Unlike the insanely over-praised She & Him, Williams and White can take an old-timey sonic for a lazy country stroll and keep the listener awake, as they do in “Forget Me Not.”
Not in the mood for pastoral and sweet? The title tracks gets downright swampy, and would likely dismantle any front porch that the duo attempted to stomp this one out on.
For those impulsive, single downloaders, the risk of missing out on some great stuff that surrounds their chosen tune is one that is too often taken. In the case of Barton Hallow, the single song afficainodos are indeed missing out on the entire drama that takes place on record, not television.
About the author: I likes me some wine, women and waffles, not always in that order (but usually). Chaucer is cool, but fart jokes are even better. You feel like spikin' your country with a little soul or mix in a little rock without the roll? Lemme hear from ya!!