Nickel Creek - Reasons Why

Soon after announcing their impending split in 2007, Nickel Creek released Reasons Why – a greatest hits album and DVD combo that tours through the most poignant songs and videos of their career, including highlights like "The Lighthouse's Tale," "When In Rome," and the touching title track "Reasons Why."

Chris Thile and Sean Watkins have both released outstanding solo records in 2006, and the group to which they belong—Nickel Creek—announced their forthcoming split soon after Thile's album hit stores. It's no wonder they opted to go out swinging with a greatest hits album to rival all greatest hits albums.

Let's face it, Nickel Creek is one of the best groups in contemporary folk music. Their synergy as instrumentalists is unmatchable and, as songwriters, all three members have churned out impressive heartbreaking tune after impressive heartbreaking tune.

It's must've taken some sweat and tears to decide which songs were going to wind up on Reasons Why, but I can't imagine a better tribute to the three young players career as a unit.

Considering the album came out after the hiatus was announced, one can only speculate there's some tongue-in-cheek-ness to why this disc is titled Reasons Why, aside from the fact the group has a song by that title. Presumably, this project gives fans reasons why the band is splitting – how is it possible to top all this? Or maybe these are twelve reasons why fans will not soon forget the trio.

Whatever the reasons for naming the album as such, there's little to say about a record this good, aside from all the songs are good.

Nickel Creek isn't exactly best known for the videos they've made, so seeing all the videos back to back on the DVD is somewhat surreal. Here are the siblings Watkins and their pal Chris Thile growing up right before your eyes.

Most mentionable from these pieces is the evolution of Thile's hairdos and Sean Watkins progressing from clean-shaven pretty boy (2000) to scruffy manly man (2005). Conversely, Sara Watkins looks like she hasn't aged a day throughout the entire disc.

There's little remarkable about these videos other than the above paragraph, but for someone who hasn't been glued to CMT and any other video channel over the last six years, it's an interesting collection to watch at least once. Needless to say the songs are far better served on their own, on CD or live in concert, sans cheesy visual storylines.