Perhaps most publicly recognized for their collaboration with Taylor Swift on “The Hunger Games” soundtrack in 2012, the American folk duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White has come a long way in the music industry since they first got started. Though their self-released album, _Barton Hollow,_ was a huge hit in 2011, their self-titled second record, _The Civil Wars,_ is even more dramatic.
While _Barton Hollow_ was mostly acoustic and soothing, _The Civil Wars_ is full of powerful tracks like “I Had Me a Girl,” and heartfelt yet aggressive lyrics in “Dust to Dust” and “Eavesdrop.”
As if the addition of electric guitar on a few of the tracks wasn’t intense enough for the pair, Williams decided to record the second-to-last track, “Sacred Heart,” entirely in French. As the duo’s first song recorded in another language, it gives the album a dark, eerie ending — but in the best way possible.
Although it’s a huge change from what fans are used to, Williams and White succeeded in putting their differences aside and delivering their highly anticipated second album. (After splitting mid-tour due to [“internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition”](http://thecivilwars.com/tourcancelation.html) in 2012, the future of The Civil Wars was unclear.)
As of now, the band is on hiatus and Williams and White aren’t even on speaking terms – and that tension is almost brilliantly tangible in each track on _The Civil Wars_.
_MOVE gives_ The Civil Wars _4 stars out of 5._