Jill & Matthew Barber

No doubt about it: the Barber clan was hit hard with the talent stick, as singer-songwriter siblings Jill and Matthew have both struck out on stellar, parallel career paths. Jill, younger than her brother by three years, paved the way for the outstanding For All Time (2006) with Oh Heart (2004), featuring the folky toe-tapper "In Perfect Time," and showcases her rich, smoky, intoxicating vocal to stunning effect on the pedal-steel-backed "Don't Go Easy." Big bro gets the lion's share of our Barber-based Next Steps.

With Sister Jill leaning towards a sultry brand of folk, Matthew Barber has spread his reach broadly across the indie-pop universe. On 2008's Ghost Notes, he produces an utterly gorgeous, piano-led ballad in "Where the River Bends" and also cuts loose with "Dust On My Collar," a meaty dollop of South-facing boogie-rock. Previous album Sweet Nothing (2005) had showcased his deep reserves of controlled passion, via standouts "Easy to Fall" and "Morning Light."

It's practically impossible to separate Barber siblings Jill and Matthew on the basis of raw talent (which is possessed by both in abundance), so we've decided to unite them in these Essentials, even though the pair spend most of their time in their own unique orbits, his in the alt-pop sphere, hers on more of a folksy tangent. That said, the Sibling Revelry Tour brought them together on the road in early 2008, and Jill helped out her brother among the various guest musicians he recruited for Ghost Notes. Stand--alone, or side-by-side, the Barbers are a source of great enchantment and they are worthy of your devotion.