Civil Wars: Civil Wars

The Civil Wars
The Civil Wars
(Columbia)
***

Has there ever been a more prophetic band name? The Civil Wars are Joy Williams and John Paul White, a folk-rock duo from Nashville who emerged in 2009 with harmonic songs about less than harmonious relationships. Both are married to other people, but having fostered some White Stripes-style mystique, their working relationship dramatically collapsed during a curtailed European tour last year. “Irreconcilable differences of ambition” were blamed, so it came as a surprise to hear that the band – still not talking – had subsequently returned to the studio. The result is not radically dissimilar to their debut, 2011’s Barton Hollow, a passionate, polished affair, taking in country, gospel but also some suitably emotive hints of alternative rock, including an affecting cover of the Smashing Pumpkins’ Disarm. Despite their differences, the duo recorded their vocals together and these tales of loss and longing are frequently intriguing, given the context. “I want to lose us, I want to give up,” sings White on Same Old Same Old. “I’ll fight with you, if I have to,” Williams responds. This war may not remain civil.

artslife@thenational.ae

@LifeNationalUAE

Despite their differences the duo recorded their vocals together, and these tales of loss and longing are frequently intriguing.