Why Should the Fire Die?

In the time that Nickel Creek spent writing songs for Why Should the Fire Die?, numerous songs did not make the cut, and only fourteen were used in the final draft of the album. When discussing the album, Sean Watkins said that the band "did so much co-writing together and filtering. I mean there’s like 30 songs that didn’t get used." After writing the songs, Sara Watkins said in her online journal that the trio spent five days "going over the details of the arrangements on each of the seventeen songs we're seriously considering for the record and making good demos of each of them". The band started recording the album in November 2004, The recording for Why Should the Fire Die? took place at Barefoot Recording in Los Angeles, California. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Thile said: "The studio needs to be dark. I don't want to be reminded by my surroundings that what I'm singing about isn't happening right then. I like to really dissolve into the story. But the Jamesons I use more for keeping my vocal cords relaxed and clear." Sara Watkins stated in an interview with Paste Magazine that the producer change made for a "more congruent project overall". The band attributed much of the credit for their morphing sound to both their new producers and Krauss. ==Songs==

"When in Rome", the opening track on Why Should the Fire Die?, was chosen as the album's only single. The song's title alludes to the American proverb "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", and Chris Thile, the song's author, said "The idea behind the song – and I do love it! - is if there is something better, it's worth leaning towards just a little bit because you'll have a great time here regardless." The second track, "Somebody More Like You" was written by guitarist Sean Watkins. The break-up song, written from Watkins' perspective, was described as "scathing", and Stylus Magazine called it a "brisk, lively instrumental". The latter also said the song was "every bit as physically exciting as Shooter Jennings or Big and Rich." "Can't Complain", a Chris Thile-composed piece, was the fifth track on Why Should the Fire Die?. According to Sean Watkins, the song was written by Thile "from the point of view of a friend". Watkins was heavily praised for her "graceful" and "beautifully" sung rendition of the song. and vocal harmonization that is similar to that on Radiohead's OK Computer. "Stumptown" is also the album's shortest song, at one minute and forty three seconds. "Anthony", the ninth track, is the only song recorded by Nickel Creek that was written solely by Sara Watkins. "Anthony", which features a ukulele melody, was described by several critics as "old-timey". The eleventh track, "Doubting Thomas", was written by Chris Thile and is named after Doubting Thomas, a biblical term. All the members of Nickel Creek came from devout Christian families, and the song is about questioning faith. The final song on Why Should the Fire Die?, the title track, is a slow waltz. PopMatters described the song as being "gorgeously sung", but "an odd choice to conclude a record that is so often bidding for the true fun of pop music". ==Critical reception==

Why Should the Fire Die? received mostly positive reviews from American contemporary music critics. PopMatters said that the album was "hardly the stuff of mountain music", and Village Voice described it as "much sleeker, sexier, and more carefully assembled than work by the competition." A review from the Houston Chronicle also stated that Why Should the Fire Die? is "like Wilco with country rock and Radiohead with guitar riff rock," and that "the trio has successfully proved the vitality of creative Darwinism." Some critics even went as far as to call the album's musical genre "emo-grass". The album also received much critical praise for its instrumental strength, with BBC stating that "what shines through immediately is the sheer musical brilliance." The magazine Being There said that "like any good bluegrass band, Nickel Creek proves capable of playing rousing instrumentals." BBC also discussed the difference between the three instrumentals featured on the album, stating ""First And Last Waltz" is smooth and dreamy, "Stumptown" is a merry little jig, and "Scotch And Chocolate" is just reel-y (sic) good." Reviews for Why Should the Fire Die? also included praise of the album's vocals, particularly Sara Watkins' "snippy", "beautifully sung" and "assertive" vocals on various tracks, and the trio's vocal harmonization was also complimented. ==Track listing==

Nickel Creek • Chris Thile – mandolin, vocals, mandola, bouzouki, banjo, tenor guitar, stomping • Sara Watkins – fiddle, vocals, ukulele, stomping • Sean Watkins – guitars, vocals, piano, bouzouki, stomping Other musicians • Mark Schatz – bass, stomping • Eric Valentine – drums ==Credits==

• Producers: Tony Berg, Eric Valentine • Engineer: Eric Valentine • Assistant engineer: Chris Roach • Mixing: Eric Valentine • Mastering: Eric Valentine • Creative director: Wendy Stamberger • Photography: Danny Clinch • Stylist: Marjan Malakpour • Assistants: Gary Ashley, Brett Williams ==References==