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Nickel Creek
It's a well-known fact that I'm a bit of a sucker for family acts, and perhaps even more of a sucker for bluegrass-that-isn't-bluegrass (a fact that will be further cemented with my repeat coverage of those bluegrass punks The Meat Purveyors later in the schedule). Hence my love of Nickel Creek -- I have a mandolin issue... and a fiddle issue... and a sibling harmony issue ... but I digress.
And, more accurately, Nickel Creek is only 2/3 a family act, the brother/sister combo of Sara and Sean Watkins (on fiddle and guitar, respectively) are joined by maverick mandolin player Chris Thile. The three have been playing together since 1989 and have five albums under their belts (not to mention a Grammy to boot) -- and haven't even reached the ripe old age of 30 yet.
Previously known for their fresh interpretations of traditional melodies as their quirky covers of more modern tunes (from Pavement's "Spit on a Stranger" on their second album to the fiery live version of Britney Spears' "Toxic"), Nickel Creek has taken a bit of a gamble with their latest album Why Should the Fire Die. And it's paying off -- the band is experiencing success on a grander scale with yet another Grammy nomination and a few videos in heavy rotation on CMT.
It's been noted that this album is darker and more mature -- in a way, it reminds me of recent releases like Death Cab for Cutie's Plans and Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous -- simultaneously upping the commercial appeal of the band's core sound while expressing the pitfalls and complications of the segue from youth to adulthood with complete sincerity. Unlike the band's previous releases, Why Should the Fire Die is more heavily weighted with original songs (including Sara's first turn at songwriting, the lovely and old-timey "Anthony") -- and more radically, produced not by fellow bluegrass re-interpreter and long-time collaborator Alison Krauss, but Tony Berg and Eric Valentine, who have worked with Queens of the Stone Age and Good Charlotte. And though Nickel Creek have taken a sharp turn with this harder, cleaner sound, no one will be labelling them punk bluegrass anytime soon!
Nickel Creek - Spit on a Stranger
Nickel Creek - House Carpenter
Nickel Creek - Somebody More Like You
Nickel Creek - Scotch & Chocolate
Nickel Creek - Anthony
Nickel Creek's albums are available at Amazon and the iTunes Music Store.
Shadows tags: nickelcreek.
Posted by Little Miss Rock'n'Roll at 01.18.06 at 3:28 AM
Comments
i didn't know nickel creek did a pavement cover! ("spit on a stranger," that is.)
Posted by: karen at 01.18.06 at 9:41 AM
Don't tell anyone, but I totally posted that track just for you, K! (:
Posted by: little miss rock'n'roll at 01.18.06 at 10:15 AM
A mandolin issue, a fiddle issue, sibling harmony issue, not to mention an accordion issue? A handclaps issue? An egg shaker issue?
Posted by: Queen of the Front Row at 01.18.06 at 1:46 PM
well, you made my mid-morning.
Posted by: karen at 01.18.06 at 2:21 PM
Comments are now closed for this entry.
