Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell

These two veterans of North Carolina alt-country, best known for producing Cary’s former band Whiskeytown, seem a natural combination for a duets album in the spirit of George & Tammy and Conway & Loretta. Both share a knack for conveying big hurt, as singers and songwriters, and each of these 11 tracks stand alongside anything each has done on their own, and in some cases surpasses it. At times, as on the more power-poppy "Second Option,” it even sounds like vintage Whiskeytown when the pair harmonise. But those occasional distractions aside, the ballads are what hit hardest, especially "Please Break My Heart,” which wouldn’t sound out of place on Grievous Angel. A timeless Nashville production also goes a long way in making Begonias irresistible. Both Cary and Cockrell are among the most underrated Americana artists around today, but this album is sure to be the perfect introduction to each of their huge talents.