It's difficult to talk about Chris Thile and not think back to the Chicago Tribune concert review that called him "A force of nature with a flatpick; To say Thile is as staggering a talent as has ever come out of bluegrass would be too limiting--few have emerged from any genre that compare with Thile's brilliance." I couldn't agree more. There are scant geniuses walking the earth today who can even approach Chris Thile's combination of "gift" and work ethic. He could have stopped when he was 12 and still be thought of as the world's pre-eminent mandolinist for the remainder of his life. Lucky for us, he didn't stop.

For this project Chris gathered other musicians who are undisputed masters of their instruments: Bela Fleck on banjo. Jerry Douglas on Dobro. Bryan Sutton on guitar. Stuart Duncan on fiddle. Edgar Meyer on bass. At the moment I can't imagine a collection of string musicians with more virtuosity. They get turned loose on 12 of Chris' original compositions. The results are spectacular. All instrumentals - this collection covers a wide range of material. Some hot and spicy bluegrass breakdowns. Some slower pieces. All good.

Get it.

When I received a copy of Nickel Creek's self titled album as a birthday gift a few years back, I had no idea the amazing journey that I would embark on because of it. I had heard "When You Come Back Down" on the radio a few times, and had summarily dismissed Nickel Creek as another teenage pop one-hit wonder, but with a mandolin. I could not have been more wrong. As it turned out, the single was the weakest song on an amazing CD, led by perhaps the single most talented musician under the age of 30 alive today.

I heard glimpses of Thile's genius on the first NC album, but it was not until the purchase of Not All Who Wander Are Lost did I recognize the true power of this young musician. Scripting music for some of the most legendary names in bluegrass, Thile composed an album that is not only mind-boggling in its musical virtuosity, but also breathtaking in its scope. Without saying a word, Thile transports the listener from a lovelorn queen (Song for a Young Queen), to the midst of Bilbo Baggins and Middle Earth (Riddles in the Dark), to the enchanted, magical world of Calvin and Hobbes (Club G.R.O.S.S.) He delves into his own history (Big Sam Thompson), as well as Biblical history (Sinai to Canaan.) Finally, in what is undoubtedly the highlight of the album, Thile paints a musical landscape with Raining at Sunset. I could write superlatives for days about this track, but calling it the standout track of this record says all that needs to be said.

In addition to the incredible performances and songwriting, the production on this album is all but flawless. With Thile and Gary Paczoa behind the console, the alubm was shaped into exactly what Chris wanted. Also, true to the style of the finest musicians, this alubm was recorded in a week. Incredible.

I could not give a higher recommendation than I give to this record. As of this point, I have given away 8 copies of the album, only to purchase more. I simply love it too much not to give it away and let other experience it the way I have.

This album, along with the earlier records of Nickel Creek, have opened my eyes to the enchanting world of bluegrass music. While I still enjoy other artists, there is something mystical about Thile's work that puts him above everyone else. Perhaps it is because this was my first love in the genre, but I think, just maybe, it is because there really IS something magical about the music made by this extraordinary young man.

Bluegrass, newgrass, progressive bluegrass, celtic, old-timey...whatever you want to label this album as, being that all of those aformentioned labels fit this album and then some, this is one of the most amazing and profound acoustic music albums in any genre you will ever hear in your life. Compositionally, Chris is just ahead of the game in bluegrass and beyond, yet he retains the essential ingredients that keep the spirit of this music true to its roots. Fans of traditional bluegrass will not give this album the time of day, but that has more to do with their own close-minded ignorance than the beautiful music that is present on this album. From a performance and technical standpoint, this album has no equal in bluegrass, period. These players are as prodigious as Coltrane or a string quartet peforming one of the six Bartok quartets.

Classical music had to change - just look at the innovation between Mozart and Charles Ives for example. Bluegrass also needs to change and develop as well, and this is the most innovative statement in bluegrass since Bill Monroe established bluegrass itself.