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List Price: $17.98 | | Label: Sugarhill
Salesrank: 5618
Released: August 9, 2005 |
| Our Price: $5.25 |
| Used Price: $4.99 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Why Should the Fire Die? Track Listing:
1. When in Rome
2. Somebody More Like You
3. Jealous of the Moon
4. Scotch & Chocolate
5. Can't Complain
6. Tomorrow is a Long Time
7. Eveline
8. Stumptown
9. Anthony
10. Best of Luck
11. Doubting Thomas
12. First and Last Waltz
13. Helena
14. Why Should the Fire Die?
Editorial Review:
Why Should the Fire Die? is Nickel Creek's first album without Alison Krauss in the producer's chair, and on it, the trio's genre-expanding acoustic music has shifted even farther away from its bluegrass origins. The opening "When in Rome" perfectly encapsulates the aggressive approach the band favors, and features poetic lyrics far more obtuse than those of most groups with similar roots. The disc's first half stays rooted in a fairly conventional folk mode, with a lovely cover of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" (one of the few solo vocal turns from fiddler Sara Watkins) and "Jealous of the Moon" (cowritten with the Jayhawks' Gary Louris) obvious highlights.
But the album gradually grows darker. The songs take unexpected twists that are challenging and unconventional, while still emphasizing those angelic vocal harmonies that float and sting. Chris Thile's peppy instrumental "Stumptown" leads into the menacing "Best of Luck," with its edgy minor-key chorus echoed by Watkins's deceptively sweet voice spitting out lyrics of an obsessive high-school love affair gone wrong. And the drums of "Helena," one of the group's most radical compositions, bring out Nickel Creek's inner Coldplay. Not a complete break with their bluegrass beginnings, Why Should the Fire Die? is certainly the trio's boldest and most creative album, albeit one that might not appeal to their earliest fans. --Hal HorowitzWhy Should the Fire Die? Reviews:
Best album yet! 
2009-09-11 - This is the best album they have released by far. The song "Someone More Like You" is my favorite. It is emotional, lyrical, melodic and unique music for the soul.
A bit disappointing for Nickel Creek 
2009-08-20 - Maybe I'm alone in my opinion of this CD, but I thought it was totally mediocre. I love Nickel Creek, and have been a fan since the very beginning. I've seen them live (and loved them), own all their CDs as well as Chris Thiele's solo CD. My daughter, a professional musician with a Masters in music, likes this CD a lot, but it just kind of leaves me cold. To me, it lacks the dynamism and virtuosity that made Nickel Creek so interesting to listen to. Hey, you can't hit a home run everytime!
Loved it
2009-01-13 - It made me even more disappointed about their break up.
Darker and mature than their previous material, but original and passionate as always.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
2008-08-01 - THEY WERE CRAZY FOR BREAKIN UP, BUT THIS IS BY FAR THEIR MOST POWERFUL MUSIC YET, VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING, EMOTIONAL BLISS WHEN LISTENING TO THIS TALENT
mishmash 2.0 ... a revised review 
2008-05-26 - I bought this album on a bit of a whim. I sampled the tracks and immediately recognized "Somebody More Like You" from airplay on a local college radio station. Unsurprisingly, it turns out to be my favorite song on the album, not to mention the only one that was penned by Sean Watkins alone.
I suppose the reason I can't give this CD a higher rating is primarily due to the lyrics. Whether cryptic (as in "Eveline") or straight-forward (as in "Anthony"), I have a hard time caring about these narratives. Some of the words seem written for filler to make a complete song; as if the songwriters really didn't have much to say. One exception to this is "Doubting Thomas," and whether or not one finds offense in the theme, it's one of the most honest songs on the album.
Musically, the interplay of the stringed instruments is often the best part of the songs, but oddly enough the instrumental tracks seem lacking. Strange chord progressions make "Eveline" and "Best of Luck" hard to listen to. The singing is also a mixed bag. I really enjoy the harmonizing, but the parts that are belted out just grate on my nerves, such as on "Best of Luck" and the ends of "Can't Complain" and "Helena" (an otherwise beautiful song).
In the end, this is something a little bit beyond bluegrass or folk music. Perhaps with more listens I'll understand it better. I think it might be worth the effort.
