Aug

24

Nicklecreek- Why Should the Fire Die?

Posted by Administrator

August 24, 2005 |

The one word that has been thrown around when the discussion of Nicklecreek has come up that I am completely tired of is “new grass”. Many have attempted to tag them with this pseudo genre tag to describe the bands mix of bluegrass sound with young energetic vocals and style. Well, Id like to jump out on a limb and kill that word, because the band has certainly smashed it and the perception of their sound with this new album.

On “Why Should the Fire Die”, Nicklecreek takes a similar yet more defined approach to play their hand in the pop world. Some tracks not only hint at poppiness but rather suggest the band has never known otherwise. This could be due in part to the switch in production as the band dumped longtime producer Allison Krause in favor of Tony Berg and Eric Valentine, (Smash Mouth, Queens of the Stone Age, Good Charlotte), don’t turn down the dial just yet though hardcore NC fans. Chris Thile and company still manage to churn out a great acoustic album, and it’s certainly not a complete departure from what got them where they are today.

Rock solid vocals from Thile and the hypnotic sound of Sara Watkins are ever present. Especially on the track “Tomorrow is a long time” where Watkins shines. “When in Rome” is another track that stands out, it ignites this effort with a “subtle yet strong” type statement from the band. However, the track that stands head and shoulders above the rest and leaps the crossover stepping stone for Nickle Creek has to be “Jealous of the Moon”. Co-written by Gary Louris of the recently defunct The Jayhawks, its has radio play written all over it.

So the new direction and push on genre walls is obvious from this release. The continued vocal and percussion strengths are ever present and the songwriting appears to be ramping up as well. Still, this album is a grower. Let it sit in your head for a week and just try not to hum a melody out of natural response. Big NC fans will find it a harder sell im afraid, but a convincing bold one nonetheless. “Newgrass” is no longer, and excellent music has taken over….

To purchase this album, click the album cover………

Why Should the Fire Die?

More about Nickle Creek on thier official site…
This review is also available to read over at the lovely Glide Magazine…..

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