Sugarhill RecordsNickel Creek is on the edge with their latest release Why Should The Fire Die? Taking apart conventional bluegrass instrumentation and harmonies the trio from California reassembles them in an unconventional way. The resulting album is pleasing while at times flirting with the avant garde. Often the only resemblance to bluegrass is the mandolin or fiddle.
Each cut on the album is like an exploration into differing genres. "When In Rome" leads off with its Celtic overtones and paves the way for "Somebody More Like You" that carries a 'Beatles-esque' sound and simplicity. "Scotch and Chocolate," an instrumental, sounds like classical music on an acid trip. Meanwhile, "Best of Luck" comes across like the B-52's punk group at a bluegrass festival.
Listening to the album a second and third time I realized the reason I enjoyed it so much was because it sounded like an album of "the other cuts" - the songs between the hits on old vinyl albums of the 70's and 80's - a welcome change to radio hit oriented albums.
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