Chris Thile - How to Grow a Woman From the Ground

Nickel Creek is (was?) one of the most dynamic young supergroups in contemporary bluegrass music. The last couple of years, though, the trio of young prodigies has been moving more toward progressive alternative country-pop-rock with their collaborations. Recently, the trio announced it will start a hiatus after its current tour dates have been exhausted. In the wake of that announcement comes mandolin master Chris Thile's fifth solo effort, which is impressive from start to finish.

The album kicks off with a backwoods instrumental, and quickly moves further through Thile's bluegrass roots. From there, he drives his listeners down a long, fast country road, past characters that alternately rock, cry, and hoe-down.

Considering his bandmate Sean Watkins' recent acousti-pop release, it's an interesting thing to hear Thile so firmly planted in the traditions of bluegrass music. On How to Grow a Woman From the Ground, Thile picks up that tradition and drags it through the gritty adventure of contemporary folk music.

Which isn't to say that there aren't plenty of moments of navel-gazing pop ballads played on bluegrass instruments (after all, he is a mandolin player). Three songs into the record, Thile trails in the first poppy tribute to heartbreak with "Stay Away." Later comes the heartbreaking "You're an Angel, and I'm Gonna Cry."

But the pop far from overstays its welcome, and the road quickly turns back to that fun-lovin' twang with another fantastic rendition of Milladoiro's "O Santo De Polvora" and it's supremely well-done neighbor, "Wayside (Back in Time)."

Thile is at his best on this record during the instrumental songs, but that's not to discount his incredible command of lyric writing and singing. As Nickel Creek side projects go, this record just may be the best solo effort so far.