Chris in Performing Songwriter magazine

[4nOnThisSide]

There's a good interview with Chris on p. 38 of the Jan./Feb. 2005 issue of Performing Songwriter magazine (the one with Norah Jones on the cover). It's in the New Release Spotlight and he says something that made me laugh out loud. The interviewer writes:

Most importantly, Deceiver is Thile's chance to grow out of his reputation as a wunderkind and be re-evaluated as an artist who has come into his own.

Thile laughs at the mention of this. I was just talking to Sean [Watkins, Nickel Creek's guitarist] this morning about if I hear one more person tell me what an insane departure this is ... I feel like I might as well have had the whole record be a choir of saws; that people would be less surprised by that. What, because there's distortion on a guitar here and there? I don't understand. Yeah, there are some drums, but that's not an earth-shattering musical difference.

The comment about the saws is what had me laughing because it's so Chris. :D

[Thilefan]

lol choir of saws...why not? :P

I think what Chris doesn't understand is that the difference most of the people are startled about is the lyrical/moral differences, not the actual sound of the music itself.

~M&M

[Bob Jim]

true

[e-rock2]

Although musically some people still think Nickel Creek or Chris play bluegrass and seem surprised when he or the band do something different. Just about every article I've read or interview seem to point this out.

[justakid]

I saw Chris after a a show and told him how much I loved the CD and the first thing he said was Thanks, it wasn't too weird for you? He's probably just tired of everyone trying to put him into some box. Let the music be music. I could be wrong, but that's what I interperet.


How is this cd different morally? Is it less moral? Or more moral? I don't really understand this...

[lethal12005]

Let the music be music.

[Thilefan]

I pretty much gave my $0.02 on a different post, but to recap...
Basically, this album represents a move from the old Chris that a lot of people liked because of his recognition that God alone gave him his gifts. As a result, his attitude reflected that. He used his talent in amazing ways to communicate his gift, and never had to stoop low to the ways of the world (swearing, sexual refrences ect).

However, his newest album represents a life without God, and what that leads to (again, this is my opinion, gathered from what I have observed). I believe as he has grown older he has rejected what he used to believe, and has started to worship the creation, rather than the creator. As a result his new album reflects a rebellious attitude towards life in general. His new album introduced for the first time swearing and other questionable lyrics, and his music portrays anger, rather than beauty.

I believe this is the single most shocking part about his new album to those who have listened to his music for years...not the melody.

~M&M

[chickzilla]

maybe i miss something, but for some reason i almost think that Deceiver represents a greater understanding of spirituality even if it does differ a fair amount from the idea of Christian Spirituality i still think its there, with his genuine Christian values.
i am not sure this is the thread to discuss it, and i think i will go try to pick up the mag and read the article tomorrow... but i don't see this as a towering inferno (or even a smoldering molehill) of elevating himself or rebellion.
i think that some of the problem may be the fans' elevating him to a certain level, and watching him rebel from THAT.
no one is perfect. no one believes exactly the same way you do. that's the way i think about it.

[justakid]

I think there are two ways to look at anything. You can demonize something and point out the negative, or you can look for the good. An artist creates. He/She use dark and light. A movie that has cursing in it isn't immoral. Nor is a movie that has sex in it. The same can be said about a song. The Bible is a big book, and there is alot of sex and death, are we to say the Bible is immoral? No. Does Chris really glorify sex and swearing? What really counts as a swear word? Is damn a swear word? We should be excited that someone is talking about their faith, even though it is imperfect like yours and mine. Chris struggles. So do I. So do you. I mean, we're talking about a CD here. The question is, when people see you, do they see a life with or without God? Do your actions represent a life with God. I know I could honestly say most people probably don't see Christ in me, and if so it is only by the grace of God. He's on a journey. It's different then yours. Be gracious.