Anyone disappointed by WSTFD?

[sockpuppet]

I've been a Nickel Creek fan from day one, and have worn out their first two CD's, but I just listened to WSTFD and am bummed. Just doesnt sound to me like a Nickel Creek CD. I'm still a huge fan, just wanted to know if anyone shared my view.

[e-rock2]

There are other threads in the general discussions area if you decide to search for them that discussed this already. Personally, I think it's their best work yet.

[somewherenorth]

and to make is super easy for you, here are two...

http://www.nickelcreek.info/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5225

http://www.nickelcreek.info/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5096

[NJlowe]

I think that NC is growing and maturing-
they deserve + feedback...

Nancy

[Sneezy II]

I totally understand being bummed. I now wonder if I'll listen to WSTFD as repeatedly as I did the first 2. Krauss wanted a sound which people can listen to over and over and she got it.

WSTFD is rougher, tougher, and maybe less likely to get the playtime, but it's brilliant music and they are transforming before our ears.

Can hardly wait for the next step - next year I gather. :)

[lerdave]

At first I was a little disappointed. I guess that after waiting so long for another album from them, my expectations were very high. After listening to it for a while now, I realize what an excellent recording it is. It is more mature than This Side and I think that I miss some of the youthful exuberance from that album.

Whle I appreciate WSTFD as another significant accomplishment by NC, I suspect that over time I will listen to it as much as I did This Side. (I also wonder if hearing the songs before the album CD came out took some of the initial appreciation away from it.)

I'm still a huge fan, though, and hope they don't wait so long for their next CD.

[JANDLME]

Although I respect Allison Krauss' production on the first two albums (strings n' all) , the first thing that struck me about WSTFD is that it is closer to what NC sounds like live. I think it is a BIG step forward, and once again the band is proving just how much a fiddle, mandolin, and guitar are capable of. WSTFD has grown on me immensely and I find myself returning to it over and over. Give it time, and realize the band has matured so their music will, too.

[Russ]

I love their first two cd's. I didn't think they was going to top this side, but I feel this maybe their strongest album yet. Lyrically and musically amazing.

[EstherSmith]

I really like this album- the sound- amazing.

some of the storytelling- the character development- the description- really lovely.

I guess my only disappointment about this album is that a lot of it seemed to focus on relationships and heartache. the first time i heard it i felt depressed and i'm not in a serious relationship. haha.

i guess that might not be fair. with the exception of when in rome maybe jealous of the moon doubting thomas and the instrumentals--

you know the repetitiveness of can't complain i honestly can't listen to that song.

it's a beautiful record. i'd love to hear more expansion then an overall feeling of betrayal, heartache, lost love, not getting a boy to notice you, high school love affair stuff

i feel like there's so much more to write about. i love to relate to music and some of the album i can relate to.

but i would love to really hear something different (lyrically) and it relate and resonate with me.

[buttermuffin4]

I know what you mean Esther. I, personally, would love to hear about them writing a nice, mushy, sappy love song :-).

[Russ]

Originally posted by EstherSmith
you know the repetitiveness of can't complain i honestly can't listen to that song.

You can't get into the end of Can't Complain? Man, the end is the best bit, sounds like they're getting into early post hardcore or something. Fugazi maybe? Build to spill? Maybe even some of the modern day emo tripe has made its way into their blood?

Originally posted by EstherSmith
it's a beautiful record. i'd love to hear more expansion then an overall feeling of betrayal, heartache, lost love, not getting a boy to notice you, high school love affair stuff.

I think the overall feel of the album isn't about the subjects you listed. I think it's about questioning what love is, not just trying to find it, but whether or not what they have is real love and why when they find something which they believe is true, it burns out. The subjects talked about on the album are completely different and more mature than the naive teenager love songs you've listed.

[JANDLME]

Originally posted by Russ


You can't get into the end of Can't Complain? Man, the end is the best bit, sounds like they're getting into early post hardcore or something.

Can't Complainisn't perhaps the strongest cut on the new album, but I think it suffers more from where it sits in the tracklisting than anything. After the first four songs, Can't Complain' comes out of left field a little bit. I didn't fully appreciate it until I heard it live, especially the end.

[EstherSmith]

The subjects talked about on the album are completely different and more mature than the naive teenager love songs you've listed.


I certainly didn't mean to imply that the subjects were immature in any way. I was just hoping that the album would talk more about other subjects- not just love. and i recognize that there are a couple of songs that aren't about love.

I think it's about questioning what love is, not just trying to find it, but whether or not what they have is real love and why when they find something which they believe is true, it burns out.

I think the whole world goes through this. and yes, it's nice to have something to relate to. but honestly- i'd love to be blown away by a new idea, new feeling, or something that i don't think about that much until i hear an amazing song written about it. new perspective, etc. i don't mean to offend anyone- but i've found it hard to really find any new ideas here. although i really dig eveline- everything about that song is just moving. and a bit chilling.

[Russ]

Originally posted by EstherSmith
The subjects talked about on the album are completely different and more mature than the naive teenager love songs you've listed.


I certainly didn't mean to imply that the subjects were immature in any way. I was just hoping that the album would talk more about other subjects- not just love. and i recognize that there are a couple of songs that aren't about love.

I think it's about questioning what love is, not just trying to find it, but whether or not what they have is real love and why when they find something which they believe is true, it burns out.

I think the whole world goes through this. and yes, it's nice to have something to relate to. but honestly- i'd love to be blown away by a new idea, new feeling, or something that i don't think about that much until i hear an amazing song written about it. new perspective, etc. i don't mean to offend anyone- but i've found it hard to really find any new ideas here. although i really dig eveline- everything about that song is just moving. and a bit chilling.

Sorry, I didn't mean for what I had wrote to sound attacking. Thing is, you can't write about something, make it sound honest and sing it with conviction, unless you've experienced it in some way. I think if you want to hear different emotions in songs you should search out new artists, or wait until they mature even more and experience new things.

[Meghan Narser]

I love this album, and not because I've ever had a bad relationship, or because I know I will. It more than the subject matter that gets me. It's... how do I say it? The energy, the need to sing it, the feelings that come through on this album. And I've never seen the songs played live, I just can't imagine!

IMHO

[EstherSmith]

Sorry, I didn't mean for what I had wrote to sound attacking. Thing is, you can't write about something, make it sound honest and sing it with conviction, unless you've experienced it in some way. I think if you want to hear different emotions in songs you should search out new artists, or wait until they mature even more and experience new things.

I'm definitely into searching out new artists. I will be happy to take suggestions. I guess I'm just assuming that the members of nickel creek have felt more than just the emotions surrounding love. and have experienced more in their lives then just that particular subject matter. does that make sense? it's nice to hear variety.

i have to say again that i do think the album is beautiful nonetheless.

[Sneezy II]

Keeping in mind the documentary from 2003 on Sundance where it was told to us that they wrote about what they knew - which wasn't much. Movies and such. This album reflects some poignant sadness in trying to have relationships. All of Chris's songs and Somebody More Like You and even Anthony are about relationship that just didn't work out.

My frist attraction to Nickel Creek was their joy. The complete joy of Ode to a Butterfly and then there were the sad songs too, but were distant and poetic. These seem so close on WSTFD. I do feel there is great sadness in WSTFD. The title song particularly.

Even with all the sad songs I think it is great and I love it. What I do miss on it though is more of their spectacular playing. I hope they find a way to capture that on their next CD.

[artsy_jfi]

i love this new album. it is amazing and honestly daring of them to take this pivot in mood. when i saw them at the wiltern, chris talked about how people keep saying this CD is so depressing and with that statement in mind, they were going to play a song from their thought to be happy CD..... which happens to be about suicide. and then they all laughed (lighthouse). i love some of their happier sounding tunes as well, but i love the fact they are willing to venture into the land of the dark. i think when looking at their 3 CDs as a whole, this third CD kind of evens out the mood aspect of their work.

and when i saw them perform these new songs live, any doubts about this CD i have heard were all removed. they still play with the fire, vitality and joy that they always have. being in the front row i saw them actually start laughing in the middle of a song from the sheer joy of playing. nickel creek is still nickel creek, amazingly talented, amazingly friendly and amazingly inventive.