Ok.  I just typed an ENTIRE entry and it got magically erased.  I am NOT impressed.  For safety's sake, I'm retyping this in notepad and copy/pasting it in when I'm done.  Not that you needed to know that.  I just thought I'd share, because I'm frustrated!

I was kind of frustrated tonight because I felt like I had nothing to say.  Come 2:00 AM I suddenly had three or four things to say.  [For the record, I have to work all night tomorrow night (as in 7pm to 4am) so I'm trying to keep myself up and awake here.  I apologize for my tired randomness.]  So, even though I'd already finished with my first and longest point, I'm starting over.  Joy.  Here we go again.

Nickel Creek.  I have to say that I come to appreciate CMT's all music station, CMT Pure, more and more everyday.  It's pretty fantastic, and even though I complained at first, I actually think it is better than the VH1 Country station it replaced.  VH1 country would have three or four hours of music programmed and then repeat those three or four hours for an entire day.  I would start to learn the order by the time it was the end of the day... haha.  The CMT station plays some pretty random stuff, actually, while still keeping it fairly contemporary AND artistic at the same time.  That's kind of contradictory, but somehow, this station manages.  Impressive.  

That brings me back to Nickel Creek.  They're on their third album right now, so imagine my surprise when a video for a song called "Speak" popped up tonight, listed as being a part of the "This Side" album (their second album), when I'd never heard of it before.  Let me tell you, it is AMAZING, and deserved much more airtime than it obviously got.  When "This Side" came out, I was still watching CMT and GAC every single day.  ALL THE TIME I tell you.  And I'd never heard of this song.  What a shame.  The lyrics:

Well I sat down next to a photograph
Tried my best almost made her laugh
She was my toughest crowd
There in the way was a moutain up in the clouds
Well I can't sleep and I'm not in love
I can't speak without messing up
Eye's tell of what's behind
And hers showed the way to a long and lonely climb
But through failure I'll proceed
And she'll see how far I've come

[Chorus]
And it's you and me in the sun and sea
I'll offer my arms to yours
It seems to me, no mystery
Well it isn't
So I'll try hard to speak

Well I sat down next to a living hell
Tried my best until I struck out
Movement is not mine
I stood in the way pretending that I was the vine
But no failure will proceed from a mouth that drinks it's wine

[Chorus]
And it's not me
Not my sanctity
These aren't my words to you
It's all clear when it's not from here
So clear
So I'll try not to speak

Sean and Sara Watkins (siblings) share lead vocals on this song, while Chris Thile sits back quietly and rocks the mandolin, adding his beautiful tenor only when gorgeous three part harmony expectedly yet randomly creeps in.  Neither Sean nor Sara have outstanding voices (although neither does Chris, but I would place him far above the other two) but both have a soft sweetness about the way they sing, an airy lightness, that makes a person feel like floating when she hears it.  The harmonies this group produces are always something to look forward to because of the uniqueness of the sound.  They are so angellic and blend together so well, you often can't tell who is on which part.  I think they must voice their chords differently every time, because they never sound the same, and that is what is so amazing to me.  

Another really cool vocal element present in this song is whispering.  The two not singing the lead take turns whispering behind it.  I'm not sure if the whispering is in the lyrics, a repetition of the lyrics, or a commentary on the lyrics.  I have no idea.  I couldn't understand it, but I didn't rewind the video to watch it again.  I was too excited to come write about it!  However, whatever significance that whispering has lyrically, it adds a really unique rhythmic element and a new, pleasing aesthetic quality really not expected in country, bluegrass, or pop music at all.  I also think it has a sort of artistic significance beyond that, especially from what I could see in the video.  I think it's supposed to represent that "voice inside your head."  I don't know if it's necessarily your conscience.  In fact, I would say it's not.  But I think its that thing in your head that just runs over and over and over when you're anxious about something, or are hearing someone's harsh words repeat in your ears.  Possibly, it's more than one voice, both fighting with the other, the way it happens when you're trying to make a tough decision...

It's really all up to the listener to decide, though, I think.  I think the lyrics really demonstrate that as well... I mean, read them.  Do you think those words could mean one thing to everyone?  Or do you think they are poetic enough to mean a million things to a million different people?  I love straightforward lyrics, I do.  But there is something about poetry like "Speak" that just make me all bubbly inside.    If you have any thoughts on what those words mean to you, please, feel free to share.

Some other really great factors in this song are, of course, Chris's mandolin part.  Everyone knows I think Chris Thile is the world's greatest mandolin player, because, well, he is.  And while Sean's guitar is definitely worthy of praise, Chris's mandolin takes the cake.  He is so creative with the way he plays.  It doesn't always have to be amazingly difficult, but he takes a certain style of playing and places that style inside this song that you would never expect to hear it in.  He does that with everything he plays, which is why I really find him to be such a genius.  Sara's fiddle, on the other hand, does not inspire me at all.  I actually don't know whether to call her a violin player or a fiddler.  I've never heard her play enough to say.  I'm sure she's classified as a fiddler.  After all, she's part of a bluegrass ensemble... but I am continually disappointed by the minimal fiddle parts in Nickel Creek's music... at least their single releases.  I've never actually bought a Nickel Creek album so I couldn't tell you if there are any spectacular songs or solo performances on any of them (which I imagine there probably are).  Still, even before I was exposed to this immense love of fiddle and really started to appreciate the huge part it can play in bluegrass and country music, I noticed that those parts were minimal.  I'm starting to wonder if Sara's just there, along for the ride.  I have no idea what goes on behind the scenes--she could be an immense creative force (although judging by the fact that both Chris and Sean have released creative solo efforts and she hasn't, I'd say no)--but as far as what the public sees, I don't think she actually adds a lot.  

I do have to say that I've commented to my bluegrass discussion buddies that Chris Thile IS Nickel Creek, and the more I think about it, I can't really say that.  I think he influences the music greatly and I don't think that without his talent Sara and Sean would have gotten too far on their own. In that respect I stand by what I've said.  However, judging by his solo efforts and the Nickel Creek music, while they do have their similarities, both are very different musically and stylistically.  Sean and Sara must have SOMETHING to do with that.  And so, all members of Nickel Creek get some credit .

Well, I suppose that's enough of that.  I do recommend going out and getting an album or two by Nickel Creek, even though, as I've already confessed, I never have.  I would, really.  But I also want the new Rhonda Vincent, Chris Thile's Deceiver and The Wreckers.  And I'm trying to save money.  Right.

Next order of business.  I just happened to glance at a few seconds of Gretchen Wilson's new video for "California Girls."  My roommate this past year was a pretty big Gretchen Wilson fan, though I never really have been.  The girl can sing, and I'll give her that, but I'm not into the redneck thing.  I love country music, but not redneck country so much.  That's an overgeneralization, so don't take it TOO seriously, but... I've just never really be a huge fan of hers.  Anyway, I did know the song before I'd ever seen the video, and I have to say the video makes the song extremely bearable.  Not that I'm saying seeing Gretchen in a bikini was a huge turn on or anything, but it was kind of nice to see her be girly for once.  It was a little bit of a contradiction, considering the fact that she was putting down all the girly skinny girls in California and she was pretty much being girly and skinny in the vid.  Yet, I understood.  The video was fun, not so stereotypically redneck (even though the lyrics still screamed "LOOK AT THE CALLUSES ON MY HANDS!") and slightly enjoyable.  I'm not sure if it will be a video I will be able to watch over and over again, but not terrible.

The last thing was a video I haven't gotten to see in probably over a year.  The Tim McGraw video for "Real Good Man" is a live performance, which is quite energetic and enough to sit down and watch in itself... but I knew what was coming afterward.  Lyrics for "the Ride":

I was thumbin' my way from Montgomery
had my guitar on my back
When a stranger pulled up beside me in an antique Cadillac.
Well, he was dressed like 1950, half drunk and hallow eyed
Said: 'It's a long walk to Nashville, would you like a ride, son'.
Well, I climbed up in the front seat, and he turned on the radio
and them sad old songs comin' outta them speakers was solid country gold.
Then I noticed the stranger was ghost white pale when he asked me for a light.
And knew there was somethin' strange about this ride.

[Chorus:]
He said: Drifter can you make folks cry when you play and sang.
Have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues
Can you bend them guitar strangs.
He said: Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside,
Cause if your big star bound let me warn you its a long hard ride.

Well, he cried just south of Nashville, and he turned that car around.
he said: [spoken] this is where you get off, boy
cause I'm going back to Alabam'.
Well, I climbed out of that Cadillac and I said Mister, many thanks.
he said you don't have to call me mister, Mister.
The whole world calls me Hank.

[Chorus]

If you have never heard this song, you've got to go see a Tim show.  He doesn't have the song recorded on any of his albums, but it is SO amazing.  Truly amazing.  When he gets to "The whole world calls me Hank" you just feel like jumping up and screaming and shouting HELL YEAH this is the best song ever! It's eerie, creative, powerful, and the advice "it's a long hard ride" is coming from one person who knew it all too well.  I love Tim McGraw (especially that Dance Hall Doctors cd, EXTREMELY recommended) and this song is so perfect for him and so perfect just... in its own perfection.  

And that, dearm music fans, is all I've got for the night.