Why Should The Fire Die?

When In Rome-This is the first single off of the record and right out of the box it is amazing. I love the celtic vibe and great lyrics...have no idea what they REALLY mean, but I guess that is left up to us to decide. This song reminds me of that great, old poetry-very complex and vague with its meaning, but very powerful and gorgous lyrics. Not my favorite off the album, but I never like the singles (except This Side) I always here them more so songs always tend to lose something after multiple listens...that is until I hear it live (more on that later)

Somebody More Like You-Sean's lone song on the album. So sad. This Side had many Sean songs which is way I love that album so much. But though there may not be quanity, the quality more than makes up for it. This IS (for now) my favorite song on the album. And I know that some people may not like it as much, but to me it is one of Sean's best because it is different. This is bitter and sarcastic Sean. I like that difference. Even though some say that Sean's voice is strained in this song, I think he sounds wonderful. I love it when he gets those high notes (like at the end). But what makes this song my favorite is the bridge...the part that everyone is talking about: I hope you meet someone your height so you can see eye to eye with someone as small as you. Sean's voice is grittier and deeper on this part. And the "someone as small as you" part...I could write pages and pages on that one line. It is where the song changes. It is the ephiphany that makes you realize what this song is about. It is like the first mean line Sean has ever sang and really meant. And the way he sings it...that one line....it gives me chills. He sounds sexy...He is so awesome and so is this song.

Jealous of the Moon-The country waltz. The song I didn't like the first time I heard it. It was too ho-hum...it just was. There wasn't anything that stood out about it. But after listening to the album version (I heard it first on the ITunes Live CD and the harmony mics weren't very good) I started hearing the harmonys and the other parts to the song. And with Sean and Sara backing Chris up on the vocals, it adds a punch to the song. This is definitely one of the best vocals on the album.

Scotch and Chocolate-One of the best instrumentals they have ever done. And I am sure it will only get better with listening to it. It is an older song so they really had time to perfect the song every night during the show. And with more creativity on the road coming up I am sure it is going to get even better. With its soft and comforting start leading up to a rocking and exciting finish, it is one of their most complex and exciting instrumentals. They did this a lot on the album, start out slow and then scare you to death with a loud and fast closer...it is very cool. I love songs like that.

Can't Complain-I did not like this song, but give me time..It is growing on me, mainly thanks to the "scare you to death" ending. It starts out too slow and meandering. It guess it is the song. It is very blaze. I guess that is how the narrator is about the whole situation. That is the way life is...deal with it. I am like that in a way. This is who I am so deal with me. I guess because I have spent so much of my life not being who I am...but that is a different story. But where this song changes. It gets quiet like the song is fading away...like it is going to end...and then BAM! The song gets faster and harder. And it turns into something different. This last part doesn't sound like Nickel Creek. It sounds like someone else...I am not sure who. That is when this album changes for me. This is where I realized that Nickel Creek really had changed...for the good...I think, but in some ways it doesn't sound as original as the rest of the album. It sounds like they are almost imitating someone. But I like it. It fits well. I am still not sure what I really think though. But that is why I like this song. And oh yeah...Chris's voice sounds amazing! This is the first time I really noticed it.

Tomorrow is a Long Time-The first Sara sung song on the album. I am not a big fan of this one. I am sure I love it after a few listens because I love all of Sara's songs. But it was just blah to me. Nothing special or intense about this song...and with this album that doesn't fit. Every song seems intense and bitter and sung with immediacy. This is just there. I guess because they didn't write it. But Sara sounds amazing on it and it is a nice change of pace.

Eveline-After hearing the sample of this song I thought it would be one of my favorites, but now I am not so sure. It is such an awkward song...on purpose, I know. But I still don't know what to think about it. There are parts I like about it, but those parts don't seem to go with the other parts. And it is written about a James Joyce story...might be why I don't know what to think about it. I never knew what to think about his books either. I always had trouble. I do like when they sing "Eveline" together.

More later...