This Side

This Side
Studio album by
Nickel Creek
ReleasedAugust 13, 2002
GenreProgressive bluegrass
Length49:58
LabelSugar Hill
ProducerAlison Krauss
Nickel Creek chronology
Nickel Creek
(2000)		 This Side
(2002)		 Why Should the Fire Die?
(2005)
Singles from This Side
  1. "This Side"
  2. "Speak"
  3. "Smoothie Song"
Alternative cover
Japanese cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStarStarHalf star
Billboard(positive)
The Phantom TollboothStarStarStarStarHalf star
PopMatters(mixed)

This Side is the Grammy-winning second major album release by the progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek, released on Sugar Hill in the summer of 2002. It gained attention in indie rock circles due to the group's recording of a Pavement song, "Spit on a Stranger". Alison Krauss acted as a producer for the album.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Smoothie Song"Chris Thile3:20
2."Spit on a Stranger"Stephen Malkmus2:34
3."Speak"Sean Watkins4:01
4."Hanging by a Thread"Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick4:06
5."I Should've Known Better"Carrie Newcomer4:27
6."This Side"Sean Watkins3:33
7."Green and Gray"Chris Thile3:36
8."Seven Wonders"Sean Watkins, David Puckett4:10
9."House Carpenter" (version of "The Daemon Lover")Traditional5:30
10."Beauty and the Mess"Chris Thile, Luke Bulla2:52
11."Sabra Girl" (originally titled "Time Will Cure me")Andy Irvine4:04
12."Young"Chris Thile3:29
13."Brand New Sidewalk"Chris Thile4:16
Total length:49:58
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Smoothie Song"Chris Thile3:20
Total length:53:18

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position		 Certification
U.S. Billboard 200 18 Gold
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 2
U.S. Billboard Top Independent Albums 1
U.S. Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums 1
UK Country Albums (Official Charts)5

Year-end charts

Chart (2002) Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 33
Chart (2003) Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) 37

Personnel

Nickel Creek

  • Chris Thile – mandolin, bouzouki, guitar, strings, arranger, vocals, harmony vocals
  • Sara Watkins – fiddle, ukulele, guitar, strings, arranger, vocals, harmony vocals
  • Sean Watkins – guitar, arranger, vocals, harmony vocals

Other musicians

Credits

  • Producer: Alison Krauss
  • Engineers: Gary Paczosa, Neal Cappellino, Jason Lehning, Tracy Martinson
  • Assistant engineers: Eric Bickel, Rob Clark, Thomas Johnson
  • Mixing: Gary Paczosa
  • Surround mix: Gary Paczosa
  • Mixing assistant: Eric Bickel
  • Mastering: Don Cobb, Eric Conn, Robert Hadley, Doug Sax
  • SACD mastering: Don Cobb, Eric Conn
  • Editing: Tracy Martinson
  • Production assistants: Jennie Billo, Tasha Thomas
  • Art direction: Wendy Stamberger
  • Design: Wendy Stamberger
  • Photography: John Chiasson
  • Illustrations: Terry Hoff
  • Assistant: Eric Bickel

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Billboard review
  3. ↑ The Phantom Tollbooth review Archived December 18, 2002, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ PopMatters review
  5. 1 2 3 "Why Should the Fire Die – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  6. 1 2 Martens, Todd/Ellis, Michael. "Nelly Topples The Boss At No. 1". Billboard. August 22, 2002. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Nickel Creek Certified Gold". CMT. September 11, 2003. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
  8. ↑ Nickel Creek Artist Chart History at Billboard.com
  9. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart on 20/10/2002 – Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2020.