How to Grow A Woman... streaming on cmt.com

[acopley]

You can listen to the entire album on cmt.

http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/thile_chris/1337842/album.jhtml

[thebiglargeness]

awesome album all the way through

freakin awesome

the emotion in stay away, your an angel and i'm gonna cry, and i'm yours if you want me is amazing

heart in a cage rocks

all the other songs do so as well


buy it !!!!!

[Jimmie]

Interesting to see such enthusiasm. I'm not as impressed. I've been listening to the new album for only a few days now, so the songs may grow on me over time. I like the traditional bluegrass material, but the other songs don't seem to me to be a very good fit for this style of performance.

But I'm mostly disappointed in the recording itself. I like the idea (playing live around a single pair of mics), but not the execution.

It's true that all the early bluegrass recordings (and some of the modern ones as well) were made without multiple mics or overdubs. But the secret to getting good sound in that situation is to use the right room and the right mic placement.

This album sounds like it was recorded in someone's basement without the benefit of any engineering expertise. The vocals are muddy and frequently lost in the mix, and the sound of the room itself detracts from the overall performance.

In general, I like the music and I love the idea of Chris getting back to bluegrass. But I'm disappointed that the technical flaws have to detract from what might be a really good record.

[mandoplayer15]

It's def better than the ones on his Myspace I think, you can hear the instruments a bit better.

[mychang]

Originally posted by Jimmie
This album sounds like it was recorded in someone's basement without the benefit of any engineering expertise. The vocals are muddy and frequently lost in the mix, and the sound of the room itself detracts from the overall performance.

In general, I like the music and I love the idea of Chris getting back to bluegrass. But I'm disappointed that the technical flaws have to detract from what might be a really good record.

i've read a few comments like this on other boards too

maybe this is the sound they were going for? it's hard to believe that a group of recording professionals would let technical flaws slide by without it being what they want, maybe a pseudo bootleg live concert sort of thing?

i don't know, it sounds fine to me.

[mandoplayer15]

So I just listened to a few songs, and The Beekeeper drives me crazy...it hardly has any.....structure, and is pratically atonal. Personally, I think this record would be 10 times better if he had recorded songs that were bluegrass in the first place. I'de give it 7 out of 10.

[acopley]

I'm sure that the sound will be much better once everyone gets to listen to the actual cd. Files that are online for listening are compressed, which often results in a dramatic loss of quality. Full-sized files, such as the ones found on cds, would take way too much time to play and load online. I would assume this is why it sounds muddy.

I am extremely excited for this cd to arrive in my mailbox. I have listened to all the songs as he posted them up on his myspace, as well as the stream on cmt. I really enjoyed the entire album, both the more traditional bluegrass numbers and the covers.

[Jimmie]

Originally posted by acopley
I'm sure that the sound will be much better once everyone gets to listen to the actual cd.
I've been listening to the actual CD. That's the sound that I'm complaining about.

[Jimmie]

BTW, I should hasten to point out that it is NOT that I don't like Chris's new album. In fact, there are several cuts that I like a LOT. I just think the music would have come through better if it weren't for the technical imperfection of the recording.

[mandoplayer15]

Not only does Heart In A Cage have the F-word, its kinda boring too if you ask me...**Waits for outraged fans' responces*

[iamblt]

maybe this is the sound they were going for? it's hard to believe that a group of recording professionals would let technical flaws slide by without it being what they want, maybe a pseudo bootleg live concert sort of thing?

That's what I think, too. I mean, with the amazing clarity and quality of WSTFD, I'm pretty sure that it's the sound that he wanted...when he talked about wanting to get back into the old-school bluegrass, maybe he was seriously referring to the old-school bluegrass sound. I'm personally not picky at all about that kind of stuff, so I don't think it'll be a very big problem for me.

Not only does Heart In A Cage have the F-word, its kinda boring too if you ask me...**Waits for outraged fans' responces*

eh....I won't get into the F-word (haha), but if you think Heart in a Cage is boring..just keep listening. I remember thinking This Is All Real was VERY boring until I just kept plowing through it, and right now it's in my top 5 Thile songs. HIAC It's one of the songs I'm looking forward to hearing the most, actually. After hearing the low-quality video on You-Tube, I'm psyched to actually hear a good version :D

[mychang]

Originally posted by mandoplayer15
Not only does Heart In A Cage have the F-word, its kinda boring too if you ask me...**Waits for outraged fans' responces*

i'd agree to an extent
the songs with singing aren't as strong as the others

instrumentals are where the money is, says i

except you're an angel..
i likes that one

[Jimmie]

Originally posted by iamblt .... with the amazing clarity and quality of WSTFD....
I guess I'm just pickier than most about sound quality. I think the sound quality of WSTFD isn't very good either. After hearing the crystaline clarity that Gary Paczosa delivered on the first two albums, WSTFD sounded pretty mediocre. But the music was good enough to make up for any limitations in the engineering.

[iamblt]

Really? Well, shows how untrained my ear is :p I know they were looking for it to pop out of the speakers and into your ear, and it sure did for me. Ah, well.

[gelfling]

Whoa! Cmt.com is actually good for something...

I'm with iamblt on this, though....sounds fine to me quality-wise.

And I like The Beekeeper (I can even hear the beeness of it about 2:40 in). And the yodeling. And the singing. And the songs with the ''bad words'' (I used to care, but go look up the definition/history of the f-word in the OED, please).

It's nice to hear the songs that haven't been released on myspace yet, too!

[oink42]

Originally posted by mandoplayer15
So I just listened to a few songs, and The Beekeeper drives me crazy...it hardly has any.....structure, and is pratically atonal.

The Beekeeper is nothing short of incredible. One of the best instrumentals Chris has ever recorded (and that's saying something). I'm slightly concerned that when the CD arrives I won't be listening to anything but that track!

[Onomatopoeia]

Hi all, I'm new to this message board, and can't believe after finding (and falling in love with) Nickel Creek a bare 6 months ago, they are taking a (I'm sure well needed) break!!!! Anyway, just wanted to let people know I just purchased this CD in my local mall, in the record store. Thought it wasn't being released until the 12th??? Wishing them the best!

[sportbug43618]

Okay this is the first time I have listened to something from the new CD, I wanted the anticipation when I got the CD. I should have listened earler. This one ROCKS. Can't wait to get my hands on it.

[Red Zep]

Cazadero IS Ode to a Butterfly

[thebiglargeness]

^
which is what i thought when i first heard it

[oink42]

Maybe John Reischman's version of Cazadero inspired Chris to write Ode to a Butterfly - there's a definite and strong Reischman influence to Chris' early tunes so it wouldn't surprise me.

Please excuse me whilst I speculate wildy for no apparent reason :D

[Meghan Narser]

Originally posted by mychang
instrumentals are where the money is, says i

except you're an angel..
i likes that one

Although I enjoy most of the instrumentals on this album, I'm very untrained as a listener to bluegrass (I'm also not a huge fan of old-school bg) so nothing really pops out at me, and I thought You're an angel and I'm gonna cry was one of the boring tracks where as I've been listening to Heart in a Cage nearly non-stop lol, my other fav. being Stay Away

I feel like such a loner ;)

And as far as quality... I know next to nothing, if I can hear stuff I'm basically happy.

[mandoplayer15]

huh, Stay away and HIAC are the most boring songs to me....

[iamblt]

I thought Stay Away was really boring until I really listened to the words and realized when it was wrote/what it was about (regarding Chris's divorce) and it nearly made me cry. I think it's my favorite :D

[nightmoon]

I already have the CD.
I think the rustic quality of the recording makes it sound more interesting, although, I will admit it is a little annoying when the vocals are lost. I'm a sing-a-long kind of girl.

And it's just my opinion, but I don't think ANY of the songs are boring. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm also a fan of people like Gillian Welch, Sam Bush, The Waybacks, The Duhks, Feufollet, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien, David Grisman, and John Cowan. So I'm probably more used to hearing this type of music than some others. I can see where some people would feel confused over some parts if they weren't really familiar with the style.

The CD was an instant favorite for me. I didn't even have to get used to it. I've already listened to it about twenty times all the way through and I've only had it since Sunday night.

Now I'm just worried that I'm going to burn myself out on it! haha.

[gelfling]

I'm going to burn myself out and I haven't even had the cd mailed to me yet!

While I am drawn more to the ones with ''words'' (Stay Away, Grow a Woman, and Heart in a Cage have been listened to over and over), I am also loving the instrumentals (again, The Beekeeper and O Santo De Polvora, among others). I was instantly drawn to the sentiment of Stay Away after I heard Chris perform it on a street corner after a concert this year. So good.

[acopley]

Stay Away is definitely one of my favorites, as well as Heart in a Cage.

Also, I went to Tom Brosseau's myspace and listened to his version of How to Grow a Woman. Am I losing my mind, or has Chris switched the verses around in his version?

[thebiglargeness]

as far as capturing the emotion of a song in a studio recording ive only heard a couple that really nailed it, the most recent two being some devil off of dave matthews solo cd of the same title, the other is stay away

they are both amazing

[Meghan Narser]

Originally posted by acopley
Also, I went to Tom Brosseau's myspace and listened to his version of How to Grow a Woman. Am I losing my mind, or has Chris switched the verses around in his version?

yea he did

[PrincessNic]

darn...i finally listened to the cd on cmt.com and I love it. I didn't think I would love it as much as I do and now I am going to have go out and buy it even though I have no job and loads of bills to pay and really shouldn't be spending money on a cd right now...

but darn you Chris Thile, for putting out a great album...

[Nick]

Originally posted by Jimmie

I guess I'm just pickier than most about sound quality. I think the sound quality of WSTFD isn't very good either. After hearing the crystaline clarity that Gary Paczosa delivered on the first two albums, WSTFD sounded pretty mediocre. But the music was good enough to make up for any limitations in the engineering.

Jimmie, I think I'm always jumping on your sound-quality bandwagon. We're the picky ones around here I guess ;)

Honestly, I love the production/sound of WSTFD, so we differ there. But Chris' new album is so difficult to listen to because of the poor recording quality. I know it was done for effect, but it's an experiment that doesn't work (for me). It's the same reason I rarely listen to Mutual Admiration Society; I love Glen Phillips, and I love the songs, but the quality of the recording leaves a lot to be desired. Strength of the material aside, I never listen to MAS, and I'm concerned How To Grow A Woman... will suffer the same fate.

[mychang]

Originally posted by Nick


Jimmie, I think I'm always jumping on your sound-quality bandwagon. We're the picky ones around here I guess ;)

Honestly, I love the production/sound of WSTFD, so we differ there. But Chris' new album is so difficult to listen to because of the poor recording quality. I know it was done for effect, but it's an experiment that doesn't work (for me). It's the same reason I rarely listen to Mutual Admiration Society; I love Glen Phillips, and I love the songs, but the quality of the recording leaves a lot to be desired. Strength of the material aside, I never listen to MAS, and I'm concerned How To Grow A Woman... will suffer the same fate.

i'm curious about this now

can you guys further articulate on what you hear? i consider myself pretty picky on sound quality too, but since i've gotten the cd, i can't find anything to criticize about the quality of the recording

is it the faded vocals?

i think i prefer the rustic sound on this recording to anything that is over-engineered; as much as i like this side and nickel creek , i consider those too clean-sounding for my tastes

if that makes any sense. probably not.

[Jimmie]

Originally posted by Nick
Jimmie, I think I'm always jumping on your sound-quality bandwagon. We're the picky ones around here I guess ;)

Honestly, I love the production/sound of WSTFD, so we differ there.

Actually, I like the production on WSTFD just fine. But it clearly isn't in the same league as the Gary Paczosa albums. They were going for something different, and it worked. But on Chris's new album, the production works against it. I consider it seriously flawed. He needs a real producer/engineer to work with him in the studio. Gary Paczosa mastered it, but there's no way for a mastering engineer to fix the problems in the mix. (And I bet Gary cringed to put his name on it.)

Incidentally, the Gary Paczosa / Tim O'Brien production on the new Duhks album is stunning!

[matt the fiddler]

remember.. Gary Paczosa is one rare engineer.



I have spoken about him with several of the nashville cats that have recorded with him, and the general consensus is that he makes things sound better than they auctually are :) [good or bad] he has a real ear, and really brings out the gold out of instruments. [One only needs to listen to the last two allison krauss albums [not live- LRBW and TLO] and NAWWAL to hear the top end of his art.

[matt the fiddler]

well, he has a new site since last time i looked..


http://www.garypaczosa.com/

[Nick]

Originally posted by Jimmie
Incidentally, the Gary Paczosa / Tim O'Brien production on the new Duhks album is stunning!

Amen to that; the production on the new Duhks is divine.