It's a very laid back album with a real americana vibe - you want to be sat on a veranda looking out over a sun setting on miles of fields. The male/female vocal harmonies are just stunning on the mainly acoustic tracks like 20 Years and Girl With The Red Balloon.
The two stand out tracks couldn't be more different, Poison And Wine is a pained ballad about a disintegrating relationship with real feeling behind it. Barton Hollow though offers a welcome respite from the acoustic harmony with a real southern style and gritty feel. What feels like an authentic civil war tune from deepest dixie with references to both god and outlaws. This is then followed with a plaintive piano led instrumental, The Violet Hour, to change the mood completely.
The album ends with an acoustic and very slowed down version of Michael Jackson's track Billie Jean. In no way is a bad track but you wonder if the gimmick is necessary with an album this good....
Apparently Taylor Swift is a fan but don't let that put you off.....
The band also have a live album available for free from their website
http://thecivilwars.com/music.php
It makes a great companion piece to the album - It's called Live At Eddie's Attic and while it does exactly what the title says it is still well worth investigating
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