by Bill Ashford
Few artists will offer the story of a lighthouse, sung in the first person, but Nickel Creek has a flair for the unusual. &The Lighthouse's Tale,& is but one of a dozen good reasons to enjoy this self-titled release. Produced by Alison Krauss, it features an eclectic collection of material, original and borrowed. Highlights include the instrumentals &Ode to a Butterfly,& &Robin and Marian,& and &Pastures New.& Perhaps most striking, though, are the evocative vocals, particularly on &Out of the Woods& and the band's cover of &When You Come Back Down& written by Tim O'Brien and Danny O'Keefe. Nickel Creek, the group and album, are altogether exhilarating.