For years, I have had a love/hate relationship with the Civil Wars. On one hand, the duo only writes sad, angry ballads that often don't find me in the right mood. Yet, at the same time, I cannot ignore their talent. The perfect integration of simple-yet-heart-tugging guitar with perfect harmony creates a pair that is, frankly, unmatched in musical maturity and beauty. However, shortly after the release of their second full-length album, the Civil Wars broke up, upsetting thousands. Years later, the two have moved on, and I have some theories... Both of the members, Joy Williams and John Paul White, released solo albums this past year, with hers receiving notably better feedback than his. I began to wonder why her solo career shows so much potential, while his is dying on the vine, even though I feel that John Paul White is twice the musician that Joy Williams is (which speaks volumes, considering she has one of the best voices of anyone I listen to consistently). Why, if he was responsible for two thirds of the Civil Wars' success, is he falling flat so quickly? …show more content…
Listening to his new album, "Beulah," I realized that he was the driving force of the Civil Wars' style. His solo work has all the key parts of the pair's music: lyrics backed by vocals that focus on loss, heartbreak, and betrayal; similar simple, yet unique guitar riffs; and flawless integration of the two, with the vocals dominating over the guitar. It was the same as the Civil Wars' work! The only thing missing was