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Nickel Creek

reviewed by Lena

Nickel Creek

Lena
11/03/2009

Nickel Creek 5

I discovered these tremendously talented musicians just days after their last local tour date on their Farewell (For Now) tour (2007ish), so I've never seen them live :( Fortunately, Nickel Creek have been featured a few times on the All Songs Considered: Live Music podcast, so I can attest that they're just as skillful live, with a whole lot of extra personality thrown in for good measure.

Their songs have a bluegrass and folksy flavor, with a bit of rock influence. The lyrics are progressive, and sometimes even a little bitter and dark. Their third release, Why Should the Fire Die? is far and away my favorite, and one of the few contemporary releases that I can't find fault in. I love everything from Sara's Watkins' soulful vocals to Chris Thile's intense and complex mandolin to Sean Watkins' driving guitar. Their harmonies, both vocal and instrumental transcend words.

Here are a few of my favorite songs for your enjoyment:

Eveline (Why Should the Fire Die?)


Helena (Why Should the Fire Die?)


Out of the Woods (Self-Titled)


Reasons Why (Self-Titled)

Add your vote! 3 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree
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jedi58 commented 33 days ago.
wasn't that keen on eveline it felt a bit generic, but really like helena. I think "Out of the woods" is a nice song too :)

you do find some good bands to listen to don't you! we don't hear of bands like this in the UK so it's refreshing to see what bands an American gets to listen to

Lena commented 33 days ago.
The chromatic harmonization in eveline wins me over.

I feel like I have yet to find a good single avenue for music recommendations. I feel like it shouldn't be this much work. Many of my favorites recently have been discovered through free music podcasts: KEXP Song of the Day and NPR All Songs Considered's Live Concerts Podcast. Hopefully they don't region control those!

I'm trying to slowly review musicians who make my day when they come up on iTunes shuffle at work, so stay tuned for more as I hear them :)

jedi58 commented 33 days ago.
(Edited 33 days ago)
I've been listening to a foreign language artist today called Laura Pausini - heard of any of hers? So far I've just heard one track she did with James Blunt... I think his bit ruins it though (I'll try and track down some more of her tracks sometime to see if they're any good though)

jedi58 commented 33 days ago.
been listening to this today too:


FranksWildYears commented 33 days ago.
If you enjoyed Nickel Creek, Mandolinist Chris Thile is currently in a slightly-less-traditionalist-but-equally-as-talented-instrumentally group called the Punch Brothers who are a great live act.

http://www.punchbrothers.com/index.php

Lena commented 33 days ago.
Hah...coney island shut down a few years back according to my good friend who used to live in NYC.

I've always wondered what it would have been like to ride the Steeplechase ride there. Check out this video at timestamp: 6:44 to see what I'm talking about:

jedi58 commented 33 days ago.
lol, the steeplechase looks so weird! wonder if they had many people falling off

FranksWildYears commented 33 days ago.
I think "Boarding School Girls" may be the oldest example of Internet Porn ever broadcast!

Lena commented 33 days ago.
@Frank....wow...thanks for that link. I'd heard Thile's solo stuff, but Punch Brothers is in a league of its own. Looks like there's a documentary about them too that I'll have to check out.
Showing 9 Comments
About This Reviewer
By the Numbers