Barton Hollow

This album has restored my faith in quality music, made by talented artists. It's not often anymore that I get introduced to much new music, except what I may hear on satellite radio. I sort of have a rule that if I hear a song in rotation four or five times that I really like, I buy it - and usually investigate the full album. Such was the case with The Civil Wars (TCW). The title track of this album, "Barton Hollow" (pronounced 'holler') was and still is in regular rotation, and after deciding I liked this song, I dug deeper. I purchased the album for myself and have since given it as gifts.I don't often write reviews about products of art (music, movies, books) because by nature any such review is wholly subjective. People who like what you like will say your review was helpful, and people who don't like it will say it isn't. It is also difficult to describe in words what a particular music means to you personally, what it is about it that appeals to you or moves you. I will try to say enough to give my five-star review context, and I hope that is helpful in some way.My musical tastes are at times very broad and eclectic, and at times very narrow and focused. I think that is probably true of many people. If I had to pin myself to a single genre, it would be rock certainly... and probably classic rock more specifically. Part of that is because I 'came of age' when that music was new, and part of it is because the more new music I hear, the more I realize the lost talent and quality of that golden age of rock. So there you have it. I'm one of those grumpy guys who mostly hates new music and feels that there is very little new talent out there, and what little there is is not being offered to us by the recording industry. There, I said it.I was a little afraid of the genre labels attached to this album: "Folk", "Country".... hmmm. Neither of those are going to get much shelf space in my music collection, and even less play time on my device of choice. But I listened anyway, and what I heard was one of the most amazing albums that I have heard in years! The music in this collection is beautiful in its minimalism approach - primarily just acoustic guitar, some piano, and two outstanding voices that were made to sing together. The harmonies in the vocals are the sort of magic that comes along rarely. TCW sing together as if they have been doing it all their lives, when in fact they have known each other only a few short years. The natural chemistry is fabulous, and cannot be manufactured. This duo is the real thing!Most of the songs in the collection are down tempo and a bit dark lyrically. This works perfectly for the incredible vocals. There is no competition between the voices and the instruments, no wall of sound in the way of the magical harmonies. This album is as close to perfection as I've ever heard. "Barton Hollow" is to the singer/songwriter genre what "The Dark Side of the Moon" was to progressive rock.One special track to me is the sole instrumental song on the album "The Violet Hour". One of the best short simple instrumentals I've ever heard. It has a beautiful and haunting melody that is so good, I can play it in my head while listening to other music - it's that strong. The one previous work that this album does remind me of is the Robert Plant / Allison Krause masterpiece of a few years ago. I'm really surprised I've never read or heard any other reviews draw that comparison. If you like the Plant/Krause combination, you will almost certainly love TCW's Barton Hollow. But don't mistake that comparison to imply that there is a 'me too' element. This is a beautifully original and fresh piece of work by an extremely talented duo that will hopefully be around for many years.

I don't usually review music in this public setting. Let's face it, most people know what they're getting. Sometimes it's a little better than you expect, sometimes not. Every once in a while you have to try something new. Experiment if you will, on some new artists. I came upon The Black Keys on the recommendation of my son and now I'm collecting all their back albums.I had seen "Barton Hollow" in stores and on-line for a while but resisted buying. For some reason I got the impression that it was just another country act. While I do have some country in my collection, I tend to lean toward rock and jazz. Hell, I probably have more classical music in my collection than country. Still, I do listen occasionally. Big surprise though, this really isn't country except for maybe one track. So what kind of music is this. It is a blend of pop, folk and yes a dash of country. I don't know if Joy Williams and John Paul White are married or romantically involved but the album cover would suggest they are, not to mention the beauty of the songs they've penned and produced.Speaking of production, this album is one of the best I've heard from a technical perspective. I've listened to it on high quality open backed headphones, on two very good home theater systems as well as an analog dedicated stereo only set up and wow! White plays a very good acoustic guitar and Williams helps out on piano and keyboard. Several other musicians appear as well on various tracks including some haunting strings. The title track is now getting some airplay on some alternative stations I listen to, but I'm equally impressed with some of their quieter stuff. Listening to "Poison & Wine" for example and the constant refrain, "I don't love you but I always will." Chillingly beautiful. I'm having a hard time pegging this duo to someone else's sound. I've come up with The Everly Brothers and The Pierces. In any case this may be my favorite album of the year. I'm searching for more of their music.

I first ran across Civil Wars from my friend Jeff with whom I share a genuine love of music. He told me I had to listen to Barton Hollow this duo and so I did, and did, and did again. I could not believe the vocal strength of this man and woman and the solid guitar work that drove them. It is a rare find to hear vocal interplay the way they do it. Take Poison and Wine, where their vocals work as instruments to build to a crescendo though the song where you fill and feel that duality of "you know I don't love you but I always will". They sing it like we've seen it in our own lives and perform in a way that captures us and demands that we not stop listening. They sing our pain like they've lived it more than we have. They sing our joy like we should reallyl feel it but probably don't. The everpresent question of "How do these people know me? How do they know I've gone through that?" Joy Williams and John Paul White have come into our lives to stay. Not just that short visit only to be put on the shelf with all the other one and dones. This is the duo that knows you, knows your soul and, like that battle at Shiloh, makes that fierce charge that overtakes your defenses and captures you in ways you'll be delighted in. Listn to "My Father's Father" and you'll see that ticket in your head clear as day. Hear "No Ordinary Love" and you will knowit, believe it and want it! Experience the Civil Wars and you will come away a different person. Your mind will be taken along with your heart and your soul will cry for more.

I almost didn’t review this. I purchased the cd but when it got to my favorite song, it skips. How maddening.

One of the delights about using Amazon Alexa Music player is discovering real gems of tracks by artists you may have missed or have never had the chance to hear before.This is how I hear Barton Hollow by the Civil Wars.Superb singing with great harmonies backed by brilliant musicianship.I ordered the CD the next day.This was a joy of a discovery.

I discovered the civil wars via Taylor Swift as they recorded a song 'Safe and Sound' with her as part of the Hunger Games Soundtrack, I'm so glad I listened to that song or I would never have heard the Civil Wars and this album, which is beautiful. It is interesting that they won a Grammy in both the Country and Folk categories as it seems that it is hard to put them in just one category. This album is a bit folky and and bit country and it is a perfect blend of many things, the songs are brilliant and so well written. The album is not over produced and it has a feel as though it were all simply live recordings. I loved Joy William's voice as soon as I heard it, she has a beautiful folk quality, it took more time for me to like John Paul, but when I listened to this album I could hear how well their voices work together, it's a perfect partnership of both singing and song writing. They both play instruments on the album too.This version has extra tracks which I love 'Billie Jean' 'Dance me to the end of love' and 'I want you back' are stand out tracks of the extra ones.My favouries of the others are '20 years' 'C'est la mort' 'Barton Hollow' 'I've got this friend' 'poison and wine'. I could almost list the whole album, I love how some songs are really chill style, but others like 'Barton Hollow' really hit you, all of tracks have beautiful mealodies and the arrangements are simple sometimes with just a few instruments, which really brings out the blend of the voices and harmonies of the songs.I'm so glad I got this album and you don't have to be a huge country fan to love it as long as you love great songs and great singing this is the best album to get

Well, I liked the title track so bought the CD, then followed the soap-opera that was The Civil Wars. The harmonies are really beautiful, unnaturally close like the Everly Bros. The musicianship's excellent and the songs are never less than accomplished, I've enjoyed watching them perform on Youtube and wished I could have seen them live.After a year or so I still play this album and really enjoy the sounds but it doesn't move me the way some music does, and I probably wouldn't have bought another Civil Wars album as one was probably enough! (My partner says the songs are all too sad for her). Look forward to seeing what they do next, though.

...then buy the album. This was a bit of an impulse purchase to be honest. I heard them on Later with Jools Holland and was transfixed by their harmonies - truly beautiful interweaving of voices with the guitar almost a third voice adding punctuation and emphasis. I was a little worried that my favourite song on the night (their rendition of Billie Jean) wasn't on the album and I might find that disappointing. I didn't - if you like any of their songs that you've heard then the album is worth getting.One of the reviewers here really wasn't impressed by 'I've got this friend' and I find that perplexing, wonder if they were listening to the same song as me. I find a load of English music to be horribly over-produced and it's refreshing to hear such under-stated simple elegance in any music. Still it takes all sorts; some people listen to Radio 1, which totally mystifies me.If you go to the American version of Amazon you can listen to clips of all the tracks - worth a visit if you're not sure.

Having discovered The Civil Wars this year, I bought this album before seeing them in concert a few days before they sadly broke up. The songs on the album are beautifully sung with amazing harmonising. When I buy any album I tend to 'flick' through the tracks, consequently, apart from Barton Hollow I thought maybe the rest were pretty much the same. How wrong I was! The vast majority in my opinion, are songs to behold. Perhaps I should break this trend of 'flicking through' so as to avoid any unjustified initial disappointment. This album will for me, remain a very strong favourite forever, bringing back beautiful memories of that unforgettable concert. Check out any couple of their songs, if you like them you will probably love the album.