MUSIC REVIEWS
Nickle Creek - Why Should The Fire Die?
David Allun Jones
There's so much raw talent found in this trio of young musicians that listening to their magnificent third album, Why Should The Fire Die?, is a little exhausting. For those who've followed the threesome through their ever-growing career (which includes two critically acclaimed albums produced by Grammy goddess Alison Krauss, the last of which earned them a Grammy of their own), the awe and shock of their top notch skills as vocalists, songwriters and musicians is nothing new; but being a new inductee into the Nickel Creek fan base, I was completely blown away by what I heard.
To set the record straight, the idea of a fiddle and mandolin instrumental doesn't work up much excitement from me, but Nickel Creek (Chris Thile, Sean Watkins and Sara Watkins) manage to make it interesting enough to bear. The intricate conversation of their respective instruments is just dazzling and what makes them even more incredible is their refusal to play it safe in the confinements of traditional bluegrass. Why Should explores much more louder and darker terrain than expected, making them more of an indie pop/ rock band with a doh-see-doh fringe.
Regardless of what genre Creek fall in, they are definitely masters of their art. The fiery album opener "When In Rome" sets the album off to an exhilarating start with it's dramatic back porch stomp and dark ideology. While most would use that starting point as the template for how the rest of the album will be, Nickel Creek instead branch off into different, equally amazing directions. Together the band's flawless harmonies and stellar musicianship in relation to each other provide the album's concrete grounding (especially on "Scotch and Chocolate", "Best of Luck" and shifty "Eveline") but it's the subtle solo turns from each of the members that prove the parts are just as good as the sum.
Sara's girlish coo offers a sense of sincerity to her cover of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" and dark desperation to the ragtime churn of the oddly mixed "Anthony". The equally pure vocals of Sean confuse the intent behind his sole solo writing/ lead vocal contribution "Somebody More Like You", setting off it's pretty melodic arrangements with biting lyrics directed at an ex ("I hope you meet someone your height/ So you can see eye to eye with someone as small as you"). Hands down, though, it's Chris' lofty input that carries the bulk of the disc's grandeur. The intimate lyrics that perfectly document the soap opera drama of young love (classic contender "Can't Complain") as well as question one's inner faith ("Doubting Thomas") point to him as the group's best bet for future solo stardom.
The idea of a bluegrass Fugees may not be the most appealing thing to most, but if you allow yourself a little musical broadening, Nickel Creek's Why Should The Fire Die could become the guilty pleasure that you keep a secret from your friends. It's just that good.
