The Civil Wars
The Civil Wars
Reviewed by: John Hyland
After cancelling the remaining shows on their European tour the future of The Civil Wars didn’t look promising. However, they patched things up long enough to release their self-titled second album. Now it seems that the only harmony fans will find with The Civil Wars is in the voices of Joy Williams and John Paul White.
The album art introduces a tone of discord for what could be the band’s last album. The onrushing cloud of grey smoke leads listeners into the folk-rock music of the band. Following their Grammy award-winning album, Barton Hollow, The Civil Wars takes on a darker and more subdued tone in this album. Their first release off the album, “The One That Got Away”, takes away any hope of accord for the band. The songs on this album are soberly sung over acoustics that carry heartfelt emotion.
The only thing tragic about this album is that it might be The Civil Wars’ last. They launched onto the music scene in a flash and may be gone just as quickly. The Civil Wars convey their tumultuous musical relationship in their album and anyone who hears it will hope for reconciliation.
Rating: Bad-ass
