Ear To The Ground - Nickel Creek

And now for something completely different...

I wouldn't have thought I'd ever be reviewing a band who could be generally pigeon holed into the genre - "bluegrass", but I have found (and think you might find) Nickel Creek to be something a bit special.

Nickel Creek are a three piece from California, or perhaps a more fitting description would be a trio of talented individuals with a common vision. You see; the three members are all artists in their own right (the two guys having released as solo artists), they have all known each other from a young age (part of the group is a brother sister combo), and won various awards on their respective stringed instruments of choice.

Acoustic would be the first word most would use to describe Nickel Creek, but their music is much more than that. Add any of the following words to gain a fuller understanding of their musical make up: earnest, harmony, arrangements, virtuoso, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, emotion, melody.

Current (and third full length) album "Why Should The Fire Die" was released this year (August 9th 2005). Produced by QOTSA collaborator Eric Valentine, it Nickel Creeks darkest, most varied record and could be their most commercially successful, already having charted at no.1 in the US independent albums chart. Stand out tracks are a cover sung by Sara; "Tomorrow is a Long Time" (originally by Bob Dylan) and personal favourite, the biting "Somebody More Like You".

Nickel Creek are Chris Thile (vocals, mandolin), Sara Watkins (vocals, violin) and Sean Watkins (vocals, guitar).

Sounds Like: Evokes all sorts of comparisions from Yellowcard doing an acoustic set to at times the folk edge of the Corrs (not as bad as that may sound to some). Some of the music is sweet acoustic ballad, while some of their songs could almost fit into an alternate soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Official Site: www.nickelcreek.com

Mercury Music Prize 2005

With the 6th of September comes this years Mercury Music Prize

But who or which album do you believe is most deserving of this years honour? For more info on the bands nominated for this (and previous) years prize click here Mercury Prize.

Who most deserves the 2005 Mercury Music Prize?

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm Hard-Fi - Stars Of CCTV Kaiser Chiefs - Employment M.I.A. - Arular The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers Coldplay - X&Y The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning Strike Antony And The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now KT Tunstall - 'Eye To The Telescope' Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay Polar Bear - Held On The Tips Of Fingers

Free polls from Pollhost.com

If theres one song you listen to today...

Hop over to www.fantasticplasticrecords.com, let the jukebox pop up, and use the controls to flick to the next song by a band called Guillemots. The song's called 'Made up love song #43.' Honestly, the singer has a truely unique voice. The song isn't bad at all. However, having listened to another one of their songs on the net, I'm not convinced all their songs are as good. But don't let this deter you from having a listen to this one.