A Dotted Line

Submitted by nonesuch on
Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

From Nickel Creek—Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins—A Dotted Line was produced by Eric Valentine and includes six new co-written songs, one tune by Thile, one by Sean Watkins, and two covers. "The most striking feature about A Dotted Line is the sheer strength of the singing, and the frequency with which it takes flight in three-part harmony," writes the New York Times. "The signature Nickel Creek blend comes across loud and clear." "It's tight, it's masterful; it's totally grown-up," says NPR. "But it's also a blast."

Description

The Grammy Award–winning, multi-platinum selling trio Nickel Creek—Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), Sara Watkins (fiddle/vocals), and Sean Watkins (guitar/vocals)—officially reunites for the first time since its 2007 self-described “indefinite hiatus” with a new album, A Dotted Line, on April 1, 2014, with vinyl to follow on April 29. 

As Nickel Creek’s 25th anniversary approached, the band members decided they ought to mark it in some way, so they got together to write music in Chris Thile’s apartment last year. They ended up with six new co-written songs, which they eventually took to a Los Angeles studio, along with one tune by Thile, one by Sean Watkins, and two covers: Sam Phillips’ “Where Is Love Now” and Mother Mother’s “Hayloft.” There they worked with Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Smash Mouth), who had produced Nickel Creek’s previous album, Why Should the Fire Die?.

“We were excited every day to be there,” Sara Watkins says. “Having grown up singing together, there is something natural about our voices and it’s really fun to harmonize. Our voices have come to match each other’s really well. Sean and I are siblings, and Chris is about as close to a sibling as you could get.” Sean Watkins continues: “It feels more natural and easy than it ever did, by far. Getting to spend time alone with our own musical personalities has helped us mature.” “There’s a joyful aspect to Nickel Creek no matter what we’re doing. Things just steer themselves into that sort of place,” concurs Thile. “We will go poke around in the dark corners but always with a heavy dose of optimism.”

Formed in 1989 when Thile and Sara Watkins were eight years old and Sean Watkins (Sara’s older brother) was eleven, Nickel Creek earned a loyal following playing the festival circuit for nearly a decade. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2000 to commercial and critical acclaim: it sold nearly one million copies, and Time called the trio “music innovators for the new millennium.” Nickel Creek released two more records: 2002’s This Side, which won a Best Contemporary Folk Album Grammy, and 2005’s Why Should the Fire Die?. Beginning as bluegrass child prodigies, Nickel Creek grew into an acoustic band known for its breadth of musical influences—from Bach to Radiohead—and its surprisingly large sound on stage. The New York Times described their music as “postmodern” and “polystylistic,” and USA Today said, “This acoustic trio moves farther and farther from anything Bill Monroe would have recognized as bluegrass...” The band members always explored their own solo work as well as collaborations, which they were able to pursue more fully during their hiatus, and will continue to do.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Eric Valentine
Engineered by Cian Riordan & Eric Valentine
Assisted by Justin Long

Design by Evan Gaffney Design
Cover Photograph: Underwood Photo Archives
Band Photography by Brantley Gutierrez

Mark Schatz appears courtesy of Rounder Records
Chris Thile uses D’Addario strings and BlueChip picks
Sara Watkins uses L.R. Baggs electronics; Bourgeois Guitars and D’Addario strings
Sean Watkins uses L.R. Baggs electronics; Elixir Strings; Bourgeois, Gretsch, and Guild guitars

Nonesuch Selection Number

541944

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
Album Status
Artist Name
Nickel Creek
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Nickel Creek:
Chris Thile, mandolin, bouzouki, vocals
Sara Watkins, fiddle, vocals
Sean Watkins, guitar, vocals

with Mark Schatz, bass

Additional musicians:
Matt Chamberlain, percussion
Edgar Meyer, bowed bass
Eric Valentine, percussion

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597955866
Label
MP3
Price
10.00
UPC
075597955958
Label
LP+MP3
Price
20.00
UPC
075597955859
Label
FLAC
Price
11.00
UPC
075597951080
Label
96/24 HD FLAC
Price
12.00
UPC
075597955941
  • 541944

News & Reviews

  • Chris Thile had a few familiar faces—and voices—join him as guests on Live From Here broadcast from Los Angeles last weekend. Nickel Creek—Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins—reunited to perform "21st of May" and Sam Phillips's "Where Is Love Now?" from their album A Dotted Line, plus the instrumental "Scotch and Chocolate." You can watch all three performances here.

  • Nickel Creek helped kick off the second half of the milestone 40th season of Austin City Limits when the band's set aired on PBS this past weekend, on a double bill with The Avett Brothers. You can watch the episode at pbs.org. Nickel Creek—Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins—taped its Austin City Limits set in August during the band's 25th anniversary tour, celebrating the release of its Nonesuch Records debut album, A Dotted Line. This was the trio's third appearance on the series. 

     

  • About This Album

    The Grammy Award–winning, multi-platinum selling trio Nickel Creek—Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), Sara Watkins (fiddle/vocals), and Sean Watkins (guitar/vocals)—officially reunites for the first time since its 2007 self-described “indefinite hiatus” with a new album, A Dotted Line, on April 1, 2014, with vinyl to follow on April 29. 

    As Nickel Creek’s 25th anniversary approached, the band members decided they ought to mark it in some way, so they got together to write music in Chris Thile’s apartment last year. They ended up with six new co-written songs, which they eventually took to a Los Angeles studio, along with one tune by Thile, one by Sean Watkins, and two covers: Sam Phillips’ “Where Is Love Now” and Mother Mother’s “Hayloft.” There they worked with Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Smash Mouth), who had produced Nickel Creek’s previous album, Why Should the Fire Die?.

    “We were excited every day to be there,” Sara Watkins says. “Having grown up singing together, there is something natural about our voices and it’s really fun to harmonize. Our voices have come to match each other’s really well. Sean and I are siblings, and Chris is about as close to a sibling as you could get.” Sean Watkins continues: “It feels more natural and easy than it ever did, by far. Getting to spend time alone with our own musical personalities has helped us mature.” “There’s a joyful aspect to Nickel Creek no matter what we’re doing. Things just steer themselves into that sort of place,” concurs Thile. “We will go poke around in the dark corners but always with a heavy dose of optimism.”

    Formed in 1989 when Thile and Sara Watkins were eight years old and Sean Watkins (Sara’s older brother) was eleven, Nickel Creek earned a loyal following playing the festival circuit for nearly a decade. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2000 to commercial and critical acclaim: it sold nearly one million copies, and Time called the trio “music innovators for the new millennium.” Nickel Creek released two more records: 2002’s This Side, which won a Best Contemporary Folk Album Grammy, and 2005’s Why Should the Fire Die?. Beginning as bluegrass child prodigies, Nickel Creek grew into an acoustic band known for its breadth of musical influences—from Bach to Radiohead—and its surprisingly large sound on stage. The New York Times described their music as “postmodern” and “polystylistic,” and USA Today said, “This acoustic trio moves farther and farther from anything Bill Monroe would have recognized as bluegrass...” The band members always explored their own solo work as well as collaborations, which they were able to pursue more fully during their hiatus, and will continue to do.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Nickel Creek:
    Chris Thile, mandolin, bouzouki, vocals
    Sara Watkins, fiddle, vocals
    Sean Watkins, guitar, vocals

    with Mark Schatz, bass

    Additional musicians:
    Matt Chamberlain, percussion
    Edgar Meyer, bowed bass
    Eric Valentine, percussion

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Eric Valentine
    Engineered by Cian Riordan & Eric Valentine
    Assisted by Justin Long

    Design by Evan Gaffney Design
    Cover Photograph: Underwood Photo Archives
    Band Photography by Brantley Gutierrez

    Mark Schatz appears courtesy of Rounder Records
    Chris Thile uses D’Addario strings and BlueChip picks
    Sara Watkins uses L.R. Baggs electronics; Bourgeois Guitars and D’Addario strings
    Sean Watkins uses L.R. Baggs electronics; Elixir Strings; Bourgeois, Gretsch, and Guild guitars