Bluegrass + Sweet Harmonies + Awesome Instrumentals = Nickel Creek

Reasons Why: The Very Best (CD + DVD) - Nickel Creek

Nickel Creek Official Website

Label : Sugar Hill

Well, I was just going to do an MP3 Spotlight post on Nickel Creek, but then I couldn't pick an MP3 to feature from this album, or them, in general, especially when it occurred to me that many people don't know who Nickel Creek are. Which is a crying shame.

I've been into Nickel Creek for a couple of years now, and am quite disappointed that they're not playing at Bonnaroo this year, as they have in the past.

What to say? Progressive bluegrass? Sure. Beautiful instrumentals? You bet. Harmonizing vocals? Check.

I love Nickel Creek, and this Best Of album is a good introduction to their music. Some of my favorites in their past albums have been some that I thought wouldn't be on this album, but I was pleasantly surprised.

They have a sound of bluegrass and country, with the mandolin, violin, and guitar of the 3 band members, or sometimes called 'progressive bluegrass', or 'progressive acoustic'. I think it's just good music. I saw in article that someone described their music as "Nickel Creek music". This is why I like it, because you can always expect something different, so different a genre can't hold them. They're signed to Allison Kraus' label, if that gives you an idea. They're lyrically sound, too, with some heavier, darker lyrics on their later albums. They have a talent for storytelling which is prevalent in this style music, like in "The Lighthouse's Tale", a story of a Romeo and Juliet type romance. They do great without lyrics, too, check out "Smoothie Song".

This album is great, with only one hiccup, being "Out of the Woods". I never liked that song. 

Nickel Creek essentially speaks for themselves. To pinpoint what makes them great would be difficult, involve a lot of swearing, and pretty pointless. Hit play and find out for yourself. 

Meanwhile, check out their other stuff if you dig this. Definitely take a listen to the mp3s here. I'll be surprised if you're not hooked.

And sadly, I just found that they're touring this year, the tour being titled "Farwell (For Now)". Catch them while you can. 

Related Links:

Nickel Creek Official Website

Buy This CD

Nickel Creek on MySpace

Related Audio:

Smoothie Song

[audio:http://www.lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/05-nickel_creek-smoothie_song.mp3]

I Should've Known Better

[audio:http://www.lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/09-nickel_creek-i_shouldve_known_better.mp3]

Reasons Why

[audio:http://www.lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/07-nickel_creek-reasons_why.mp3]

When In Rome

[audio:http://www.lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/03-nickel_creek-when_in_rome.mp3]

Enjoy.