CD Review

For his fifth solo album, Chris Thile has saved a little bit of everything for people who simply view him as a great mandolin player. The twenty-three-year-old Nickel Creek mandolinist is probably sick of people viewing him as a one-dimensional musician—but who could have guessed what he had in store for those who thought they had him figured out? That’s hard to predict, just like Thile’s latest project, which is filled with unquestioned fervor.

On Deceiver, Thile does it all, reinventing himself to the greatest degree; every note, word, and breath on the album comes from him. Not bashful to set his mandolin aside, Thile tests out his drumming, guitar, and piano skills, giving many of the tunes a raw feel that shadows his creative arsenal. It’s also his first solo project that features vocals, and with only two instrumentals, Thile shows them off with blistering passion. On the first track, “The Wrong Idea,” Thile sings “I’m nineteen and I’ve kissed two girls, that’s all,” with a splash of vulnerability that suggests he could actually be a goofy teen.

It’s probable that many Nickel Creek fans won’t know what to do with this piece of work, but that’s ok. Thile is mighty comfortable being the deceiver that no one thought he could be.