Nickel Creek: a Trio of 'New Grass' Prodigies

"Newgrass" group Nickel Creek has single-handedly brought bluegrass back to the front burner. They have turned today's youth onto a new brand of music, as well as wowed older fans with an innovative style of music they have grown up with.

Although new to radio, the trio has been playing together over a decade. That's almost their entire lives, as they are all under 25-years old! Dubbed musical prodigies at a very young age, Sean Watkins, on the guitar, his sister Sara on the violin and longtime pal Chris Thile, on the mandolin, they began playing together at a San Diego pizza shop.

Last year, they released their debut album on Sugar Hill Records. Produced by their mentor and hero, bluegrass master Allison Krauss, Nickel Creek is a solid debut album packed with the right mix of original, jammin' instrumentals, self-penned ballads, as well as a few traditional bluegrass songs. Chris and Sara take turns on the lead vocals, while Sean provides stirring backup harmony.

The album kicks off in high gear with the foot-stompin' instrumental romp, "Ode to a Butterfly." "The Lighthouse's Tale", their latest hit to beacon on the music charts, is a beautiful and brilliant story song. Sung from the perspective of a lonely lighthouse, he tells the tragic love story of his keeper.

Their first single "When You Come Back Down," talks about wanting to see someone reach their dreams so bad, even if it means leaving....and waiting. It is a motivating tune, about flying high in the sky, and having love and support waiting on the ground below. ("Take every chance you dare, I'll still be there when you come back down...")

Another highlight is the gospel-tinged "The Hand Song." It speaks of the incredible sacrifices we make for love. First, a boy picks roses for his mother, unaware of the thorns that would scar him. Then, boy then learns about Jesus and how he died on the cross. "Momma, he has scars like me." The boy soon gets called to war, and the story, well you can probably guess how it ends.

The traditional song, "The Fox" is a plain fun song about a fox finding dinner for his family in the farmer's pen. The poor goose.

I will foreworn you. You must enjoy instrumentals to fully enjoy this album. If you do, great, then that is not really a con! Otherwise, just know that you cannot sing along to every track. However, you should not be disappointed, as you can still jam to this entire CD, whether it be singing, clapping or tapping. With that said, this CD is a worthwhile investment. Don't you want to see what the entire nation it talking about?

Musical prodigies. Lyrical masters. Yes. Nickel Creek truly is a group of music innovators. To say these kids are poised for success would be a lie. They are in fact, already there.