Here's a nickel, kid
It's old favorites day here at the ranch and after some Duran Duran I'm currently listening to tunes by Nickel Creek. After the release of This Side I called sophomore slump on the gang, but I thought perhaps I should give them a re-listening after some time off to see if I had been unduly harsh. The verdict: This Side has some decent tracks but still doesn't even come close to surpassing the group's debut release in terms of inventiveness and sheer virtuousity from this young trio. Pretty much all the halfway decent songs are the ones written by the performers themselves but that only accounts for seven of the twelve tracks (I'm counting two halves in that number). The only possible exception is "I Should've Known Better," but that's only because it sounds awesome with its explosive percussion and slap bass line when turned up loud on a good pair of speakers.
Nickel Creek remains an incredible album, one of my favorites, and not just because it was written and recorded by a three awesome musicians even younger than I am. The followup album feels too crossover to me, which wouldn't be bad if it highlighted the Watkins siblings, Sean and Sara, and Chris Thile's fabulous instrumental talents more. Both albums are immaculately produced by Alison Krauss.
Chris Thile's solo effort Not All Who Wander Are Lost is also worthy of praise. Featuring such luminaries as Béla Fleck and MacArthur fellow Edgar Meyer, it's a spirited and virtuostic romp, even if some of the songs are musically underdeveloped.
Posted by ned at October 18, 2002 03:27 PM