The Countdown Is On

The best band in the world, Nickel Creek, is coming out with a new album August 9, almost three years to the day after their last studio album, "This Side."
Right off the bat, let me say that I am so boinging stoked that they're covering the Bob Dylan classic "Tomorrow Is A Long Time," which I treated to a Lyric Analysis on this blog a while back. My favorite band doing one of my favorite songs from the greatest living songwriter -- that alone is worth the price of an album. But this one, entitled "Why Should The Fire Die," promises to be loaded with memorable cuts. Here is the track list:

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?

I've heard Scotch & Chocolate, Can't Complain, and Anthony. Scotch & Chocolate is a cool instrumental. They performed it on Live Lunch at the WFPK studios a few weeks ago (just a few feet in front of my chair!!!) and also that night at the Derby Eve concert spectacular in the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Anthony is a funny little song that Sara Watkins leads on. If memory serves me correct, she even plays ukelele on it -- it's such a refreshing, fun little ditty.
Can't Complain, formerly titled She Can't Complain, is a heart-stopping, emotionally-charged song led by Chris Thile. They've been performing it in live shows for over a year, and it is the song that nearly every fan has begged them to record. Nickel Creek has heard our cries.
I've heard great things about Doubting Thomas, a song that takes a poignant look at the role of faith in the life of a believer. I've also heard glowing reviews of the title cut, Why Should The Fire Die, and When In Rome.
In my links section you'll see a link to the band's website (www.nickelcreek.com). Check it out. They completely overhauled their website this past Wednesday. It has a lot of cool features, as well as more info about the new album. They've also merged with the top Creek fan site, nickelcreek.info. From the main site you can access the fan site message board, where you can keep up with all the latest info, read reviews and set lists of all their concerts, and hold conversations with Creeksters the world over.