Every once in awhile, I stumble across a group that makes me giddy. A smile creeps across my face and I am filled with the same amount of happiness as a child who is given free reign of a candy store. I can’t sit still, I’m smiling more than Buddy the Elf, I want to tell EVERYONE – you know, all the usual symptoms. Well guess what, children? This is so much better than your sugar encrusted merriment. My supply never runs out and listening to said group on repeat doesn’t make me nauseous.

I came across the name “The Civil Wars” on Facebook the other day. I remembered the group name because, well, look at it. While I would love to give credit where credit is due, I cannot for the life of me remember who decided to make things Facebook official with The Civil Wars. Whoever it was, thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s this kind of raw talent that keeps my faith in music alive.

Joy Williams and John-Paul White, also known as The Civil Wars, met during a songwriting session in Nashville, TN in 2008. The duo has since been featured on Jay Leno, in multiple magazines, and nominated for this little dust collecting statue called a Grammy. While their sound is a bit more folk driven than the groups I usually fall in love with, the grit and down beat won me over. Oh, how my knees weaken at the sound of a driven downbeat. You’ll hear it easily in Barton Hollow.

I battled with myself for a bit in terms of which song to post as song of the day. In one corner, we have Barton Hollow, a gritty sounding folk song. In the other, Poison and Wine, a song with a beautiful marriage of piano and guitar. Which to choose? Which to choose? I don’t do well when faced with decisions!

Then, it hit me. This is my blog. I make the rules. Today, I give you two songs. Because just like that kid in the candy store won’t take just one piece of a newly discovered favorite, I won’t battle with myself on which one I like better. I love both.  So there.