Reasons Why: The Very Best (CD + DVD) Review

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(More customer reviews)When Nickel Creek announced their separation in August 2006, many fans were in agony. This collection clearly demonstrates why. Their music is wholly original and unique, based on bluegrass/new acoustic instrumentation with rock and jazz influences and technical virtuosity, a combination not found in any other current band. This collection displays all their strengths in a single disc format, concluding with a phenomenal demonstration of their musical abilities in a live setting.
I have never seen a greatest hits collection that fans believe wholly captures their favorite band's abilities, and the same can obviously be said about "Reasons Why." Despite this, the collection gathers both "greatest hits" and songs that give an overview of their abilities. Interestingly, the track listing is not sequential, likely to provide shifts in moods and feels; selections from the first CD are more gentle while those from their most recent one are heavier, so placing them out of order gives the sound more variety. However, it also takes away from the obvious growth of the band in the 5 years between "Nickel Creek" and "Why Should the Fire Die?" Imagine a Beatles greatest hits that juxtaposes "All My Loving" with "Strawberry Fields" before returning to "A Hard Day's Night." It's harder to see the musical progression of the band and appreciate how far they came in a short time.
What this collection offers is the gorgeous harmonies of "Out of the Woods," the instrumental excellence of "Smoothie Song," the pop accesibility of "This Side," the loveliness of "When You Come Back Down," and the songwriting sophistication of "helena." All fans will be upset by what was left off (I'll argue for the inclusion of 'ode to a Butterfly," the outstanding instrumental that introduced the band on their first wide-release CD), but will have trouble arguing that this is a great overview, particularly for a band with only three common releases (their first CD is more of a children's recording of cowboy songs, while their next CD is out of print and not currently available).
For those who have all their recordings, this collection offers not only all their videos--a nice addition for us obsessive collectors--but two outstanding live tracks. The first, "You Don't Have to Move that Mountain," is from the out-of-print CD and has been a concert staple for years; it is solidly performed and great to have. But it is "The Fox" that demonstrates our apoplexy at the band's "break." Who else can start with a classic folk song before breaking into a Dylan rap and an extended classical selection before bringing it back together for an energized finish in nine minutes? No one. There is no band like Nickle Creek.

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1. The Lighthouse's Tale (5:00) Composed by Chris Thile 2. Out of the Woods (5:20) 3. When in Rome (4:15) Composed by Chris Thile 4. Helena (4:40) Composed by Chris Thile 5. Smoothie Song (3:19) Composed by Chris Thile 6. Somebody More Like You (2:58) Composed by Sean Watkins 7. Reasons Why (4:07) Composed by Sean Watkins 8. Can't Complain (5:31) Composed by Chris Thile 9. I Should've Known Better (4:26) Composed by Carrie Newcomer 10. This Side (3:34) Composed by Sean Watkins 11. Jealous of the Moon (4:40) Composed by Gary Louris 12. When You Come Back Down (3:52) Composed by Tim O'Brien 13. You Don't Have to Move That Mountain (Live) (3:51) Composed by Keith Whitley 14. The Fox (Live) (9:19) Composed by Bob Dylan 15. Reasons Why (DVD) () Composed by Sean Watkins 16. When You Come Back Down (DVD) () Composed by Tim O'Brien 17. Lighthouse's Tale (DVD) () Composed by Chris Thile 18. This Side (DVD) () Composed by Sean Watkins 19. Speak (DVD) () Composed by Sean Watkins 20. Smoothie Song (DVD) () Composed by Chris Thile 21. When in Rome (DVD) () Composed by Chris Thile

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