| San Diego is not exactly known as a hotbed of contemporary bluegrass
music, but then again, Nickel Creek are a far cry from most bluegrass
bands you've ever heard. On their Alison Krauss-produced debut, they serve
up a lilting, ethereal fusion of bluegrass, Celtic, modern folk, and even
classical influences, offering exquisite harmonies that would be more
at home at a Crosby, Stills & Nash tribute than a musical salute to the
late Bill Monroe. Yet it makes for delightful listening, all the same.
The three principals (Sara Watkins on fiddle and vocals; her brother Sean
Watkins on guitar, mandolin, and vocals; and Chris Thile on mandolin,
banjo, bouzouki, and vocals) are either barely out of their teens or still
in them. Individually and as a band, they've already won a slew of awards
and notoriety on their respective instruments. The three prodigies (joined
by Thile's dad, Scott, on bass) really strut their eclectic hot licks
on a few soaring, skittering instrumentals, but even more impressive are
Nickel Creek's graceful, heartfelt harmonies on the many lovely ballads.
Hot licks, when you get right down to it, are a dime a dozen; this sort
of pluperfect tunefulness is a much rarer thing. |
