Chip
07-18-2002, 02:07 AM
Just received my This Side press kit, which included a promo copy of This Side.
It's absolutely amazing.
Stunning.
The 30 second clips DO NOT do the album justice at all.
Not that I expected anything else, it's just light years better than even the positive comments made by others who have heard it.
In my opinion, there's every bit as much growth and evolution between 'This Side and Nickel Creek (their major label debut) as there was between Nickel Creek and Here to There
While the actual instrumentation is similar to the last record, the production is light years beyond. An incredible level of attention to detail has been given to every aspect of the recording by producer Alison Krauss. Subtle and appropriate use of digital signal processing (envelope and phase modification, distortion, chorusing, vocal processing, and other elements are evident) provide a richness and depth that I've never heard on any bluegrass or country record. A lot of attention has been paid to placement of tracks within the stereo field; I haven't yet listened to the disc on headphones, but look forward to it, because I can already tell that it will be an entirely new experience. I hope that they'll consider doing a release of the disc on DVD-Audio or Dolby 5.1, because this recording would be just incredible in that format.
Vocal harmonies are much more developed, drawing from jazz, pop, dissonance, and even blues influences. Fiddle arrangements are probably the most striking instrumental change. Sara's always been an incredible fiddler, but she's ventured out well beyond the safety of conventional bluegrass and brought in elements and lines that forge new territory in the same way the Bela Fleck did with the banjo years ago, while also making use of more traditional string arrangements in places where it's called for.
The increased presence of Sean's vocals are a welcome additionn and Krauss has coaxed a new level of glasslike smoothness and versatility from him.
Interestingly, Krauss has chosen to place nearly all of the lead vocals way in front, using very little processing on them in most tracks. Even reverb is used very sparingly on most tracks, literally putting the lead vocal right in your living room. All three band members share lead vocal responsibilities.
The songwriting also shows a new level of maturity, depth and complexity. Many of the songs are completely new, rarely (if ever) performed live up to this point. It's another surprising -- and welcomed --element to a very surprising recording.
If I were to voice any criticisms about the recording, they would be with the arrangement/production of This Side and Green and Gray. This Side is an amazing tune, and a live bootleg recording of it is in my most played discs category, but this arrangement affects me as just a little too busy. It sounds like Krauss was compensating for the lack of a drum kit (which would be an *incredible* addition) with a very rhythmic and syncopated bass line, but, to me, it was an unnecessary complication to an already strong and rhythmic tune.
And Green and Gray is another favorite tune of mine since the first time I heard it -- another track on my most listened bootleg disc -- but this arrangement has lost a little of the magic that was present in the bands earlier live performances. The chorus feels a little rushed, losing the wonderful flowing feel it had in the earlier live performances. I found the bass tracks to be a little too jarring for my tastes (though that could change as I listen more.) And I personally much preferred the lyric when it was in the first person, but I suspect that it might have been just a little too personal for Chris to sing in the first person.
But both of those criticisms are minuscule in comparison to the overall quality of the recording. I simply cannot convey in words what an amazing work this recording represents.
So... what kind of a record is it?
I will argue strongly that it is NOT a bluegrass or country or even folk record at all, though the elements of those genres are quite present throughout the record.
It's also absolutely NOT a pop record in the sense of an 'NSync or Incubus.
But I think it could easily hold its own in the pop/rock genre against, say, a John Mayer recording, or one of the many folk-influenced singer-songwriters(Natalie Merchant, Glen Phillips, maybe even Counting Crows)
So what will existing fans think?
I think that different people will have very different takes and reactions on the album. Those who are looking for another hybrid bluegrass/folkie/newgrass record, if one can call the last record that, won't find much of the traditional folkie vibe in this record.
But I also doubt that many who liked the last record will *dislike* this one, unless their primary interest was the bluegrass instrumentals. Those simply aren't on the new record, nor is there much that would easily fall into the traditional category. For those worried about selling out, it's quite clear that this IS a Nickel Creek record. Yes, it's absolutely got more commercial appeal, but that's not a bad thing. It has *incredible* songwriting, amazing performances, and stunning production.
You absolutely, positively MUST buy it.
It's absolutely amazing.
Stunning.
The 30 second clips DO NOT do the album justice at all.
Not that I expected anything else, it's just light years better than even the positive comments made by others who have heard it.
In my opinion, there's every bit as much growth and evolution between 'This Side and Nickel Creek (their major label debut) as there was between Nickel Creek and Here to There
While the actual instrumentation is similar to the last record, the production is light years beyond. An incredible level of attention to detail has been given to every aspect of the recording by producer Alison Krauss. Subtle and appropriate use of digital signal processing (envelope and phase modification, distortion, chorusing, vocal processing, and other elements are evident) provide a richness and depth that I've never heard on any bluegrass or country record. A lot of attention has been paid to placement of tracks within the stereo field; I haven't yet listened to the disc on headphones, but look forward to it, because I can already tell that it will be an entirely new experience. I hope that they'll consider doing a release of the disc on DVD-Audio or Dolby 5.1, because this recording would be just incredible in that format.
Vocal harmonies are much more developed, drawing from jazz, pop, dissonance, and even blues influences. Fiddle arrangements are probably the most striking instrumental change. Sara's always been an incredible fiddler, but she's ventured out well beyond the safety of conventional bluegrass and brought in elements and lines that forge new territory in the same way the Bela Fleck did with the banjo years ago, while also making use of more traditional string arrangements in places where it's called for.
The increased presence of Sean's vocals are a welcome additionn and Krauss has coaxed a new level of glasslike smoothness and versatility from him.
Interestingly, Krauss has chosen to place nearly all of the lead vocals way in front, using very little processing on them in most tracks. Even reverb is used very sparingly on most tracks, literally putting the lead vocal right in your living room. All three band members share lead vocal responsibilities.
The songwriting also shows a new level of maturity, depth and complexity. Many of the songs are completely new, rarely (if ever) performed live up to this point. It's another surprising -- and welcomed --element to a very surprising recording.
If I were to voice any criticisms about the recording, they would be with the arrangement/production of This Side and Green and Gray. This Side is an amazing tune, and a live bootleg recording of it is in my most played discs category, but this arrangement affects me as just a little too busy. It sounds like Krauss was compensating for the lack of a drum kit (which would be an *incredible* addition) with a very rhythmic and syncopated bass line, but, to me, it was an unnecessary complication to an already strong and rhythmic tune.
And Green and Gray is another favorite tune of mine since the first time I heard it -- another track on my most listened bootleg disc -- but this arrangement has lost a little of the magic that was present in the bands earlier live performances. The chorus feels a little rushed, losing the wonderful flowing feel it had in the earlier live performances. I found the bass tracks to be a little too jarring for my tastes (though that could change as I listen more.) And I personally much preferred the lyric when it was in the first person, but I suspect that it might have been just a little too personal for Chris to sing in the first person.
But both of those criticisms are minuscule in comparison to the overall quality of the recording. I simply cannot convey in words what an amazing work this recording represents.
So... what kind of a record is it?
I will argue strongly that it is NOT a bluegrass or country or even folk record at all, though the elements of those genres are quite present throughout the record.
It's also absolutely NOT a pop record in the sense of an 'NSync or Incubus.
But I think it could easily hold its own in the pop/rock genre against, say, a John Mayer recording, or one of the many folk-influenced singer-songwriters(Natalie Merchant, Glen Phillips, maybe even Counting Crows)
So what will existing fans think?
I think that different people will have very different takes and reactions on the album. Those who are looking for another hybrid bluegrass/folkie/newgrass record, if one can call the last record that, won't find much of the traditional folkie vibe in this record.
But I also doubt that many who liked the last record will *dislike* this one, unless their primary interest was the bluegrass instrumentals. Those simply aren't on the new record, nor is there much that would easily fall into the traditional category. For those worried about selling out, it's quite clear that this IS a Nickel Creek record. Yes, it's absolutely got more commercial appeal, but that's not a bad thing. It has *incredible* songwriting, amazing performances, and stunning production.
You absolutely, positively MUST buy it.