sarah
09-10-2003, 08:26 PM
Here's a review I found on epinions... (My favorite part is For really young players, these three do OK on the instruments I laughed so hard I nearly wet my pants reading that!!)
I bought the Nickel Creek debut album called NC, because it was billed as bluegrass. It is not bluegrass—leastways not the bluegrass that I know and love. This is music that you would hear if you stopped at an upscale country shop in a place like Gatlinburg, TN where you can buy a broken toilet to plant your flowers in for $299.99. Picture Irish fairies dancing around an old stump or birds chirping in the woods sans the poison ivy, and you’ve got an idea about the style here.
Perhaps this is beach-grass. On the back, the three singers are standing on the beach in silhouette with nothing in the background. The colors on the back are brown tone with the two male singers one shorter than the other and the girl the shortest and wearing some gosh baggie clothes. This whole scene is lonely but not in an inspiring way like train whistles or banjo picking on the back porch. If I walked by there on the beach, I would sure not stop to see what they were up to, because they do not seem to be up to anything.
Now, maybe this is new-grass. The two guys in the group have that spiked, tipped blonde hair that reminds me of Back Street Boys. The girl must have bought one of those TV ad twist up things that makes braids in the hair for $19.99 and shipping.
The real measure of music in the bluegrass circuit is the strength and speed of the players and the echo of the vocalist(s). For really young players, these three do OK on the instruments (especially if you’ve never heard hard core players). The lead song, Ode to a Butterfly, is really nice and reflects good training in music. I kind of drift into the song and get my dishes washed and my cabinets sorted out. As far as the vocals, the female carries, and she is not country. I could see her in commercials as background. Nice voice. Nothing that jumps out and grabs you. Most females in country and bluegrass pull deeper and belt it out better.
For the most part, the music here either lulls or causes nervous agitation. When it’s really down low and quiet, then it works fine for background. When it’s up on the speed and the female is singing, then I tend to bite my fingernails. I don’t even notice, but when this one is on and I’m not paying attention (which is easy to do), then I key up. I tend to do this in country fancy shops where it’s all high prices and not really holler crafts. I like everything fine, but I know it’s not “my people.” I look around, but I can’t wait to leave.
I would list the songs, but I doubt you’ve ever heard of them or ever will, unless you buy the CD. None has ever charted, and I am sure they never will. These are not mainstream, and they not even bluegrass for those who lean over that way. You can click around online and get some samples, but they are the best on the album. I know, because that is how I decided to buy this one. I enjoyed some of the intros (30 or sec. per song) that included the more bluegrassy sounds, but when I got this one at home, I found that it was not one that I would play to listen to. It’s OK at a party when everyone is talking and not really paying attention to the music. Most any music would do then.
This album has rave reviews online. Some folks may really love it, but I would sure not tell any of my bluegrass buddies to pick it up. I really can’t think of any friends that would get excited about this one, or I would pass it on to. It’s not near as good as Blue Highway , and I don’t think this one will ever be considered a classic in any genre. On thing for sure, it’s not bluegrass as far as those who love that genre. I guess that was as close as they could get to what this one sounds like—chalk on a blackboard if you love real bluegrass.
I bought the Nickel Creek debut album called NC, because it was billed as bluegrass. It is not bluegrass—leastways not the bluegrass that I know and love. This is music that you would hear if you stopped at an upscale country shop in a place like Gatlinburg, TN where you can buy a broken toilet to plant your flowers in for $299.99. Picture Irish fairies dancing around an old stump or birds chirping in the woods sans the poison ivy, and you’ve got an idea about the style here.
Perhaps this is beach-grass. On the back, the three singers are standing on the beach in silhouette with nothing in the background. The colors on the back are brown tone with the two male singers one shorter than the other and the girl the shortest and wearing some gosh baggie clothes. This whole scene is lonely but not in an inspiring way like train whistles or banjo picking on the back porch. If I walked by there on the beach, I would sure not stop to see what they were up to, because they do not seem to be up to anything.
Now, maybe this is new-grass. The two guys in the group have that spiked, tipped blonde hair that reminds me of Back Street Boys. The girl must have bought one of those TV ad twist up things that makes braids in the hair for $19.99 and shipping.
The real measure of music in the bluegrass circuit is the strength and speed of the players and the echo of the vocalist(s). For really young players, these three do OK on the instruments (especially if you’ve never heard hard core players). The lead song, Ode to a Butterfly, is really nice and reflects good training in music. I kind of drift into the song and get my dishes washed and my cabinets sorted out. As far as the vocals, the female carries, and she is not country. I could see her in commercials as background. Nice voice. Nothing that jumps out and grabs you. Most females in country and bluegrass pull deeper and belt it out better.
For the most part, the music here either lulls or causes nervous agitation. When it’s really down low and quiet, then it works fine for background. When it’s up on the speed and the female is singing, then I tend to bite my fingernails. I don’t even notice, but when this one is on and I’m not paying attention (which is easy to do), then I key up. I tend to do this in country fancy shops where it’s all high prices and not really holler crafts. I like everything fine, but I know it’s not “my people.” I look around, but I can’t wait to leave.
I would list the songs, but I doubt you’ve ever heard of them or ever will, unless you buy the CD. None has ever charted, and I am sure they never will. These are not mainstream, and they not even bluegrass for those who lean over that way. You can click around online and get some samples, but they are the best on the album. I know, because that is how I decided to buy this one. I enjoyed some of the intros (30 or sec. per song) that included the more bluegrassy sounds, but when I got this one at home, I found that it was not one that I would play to listen to. It’s OK at a party when everyone is talking and not really paying attention to the music. Most any music would do then.
This album has rave reviews online. Some folks may really love it, but I would sure not tell any of my bluegrass buddies to pick it up. I really can’t think of any friends that would get excited about this one, or I would pass it on to. It’s not near as good as Blue Highway , and I don’t think this one will ever be considered a classic in any genre. On thing for sure, it’s not bluegrass as far as those who love that genre. I guess that was as close as they could get to what this one sounds like—chalk on a blackboard if you love real bluegrass.