Blinders on
From the opening Nirvana-styled guitar squall of "Not That Bad/Blinders On" to the piano and fresh-faced Beach Boys-influenced vocals that appear out of nowhere only ten seconds later, it's obvious that Sean Watkins has decided to make this outing different from anything else he has produced under his own name or with Nickel Creek. Recorded sporadically over a two-year period between tours,Blinders On, perhaps not surprisingly, reflects a wildly diverse, even schizophrenic quality. The songs veer from lovely, acoustic ballads such as "Run Away Girl" and "I'm Sorry" to skewed, near-experimental yet melodic pieces. "Happy New Year" shifts from Brian Wilson-styled chamber pop to tape-looped drums, all within four minutes. Like Wilson, Watkins uses the studio as an instrument, overdubbing himself on guitar, bass, and keyboards and stitching the track together with remarkably cohesive results. His sweet, boyish voice, sometimes reminiscent of a young Jackson Browne or Ben Folds, brings an intriguing innocence to these complex tracks, many of which don't follow traditional song structure. It's not an easy listen, but multiple spins, especially with headphones, helps one to appreciate the sheer craft and talent on this set. Sister and fellow Nickel Creek member Sara Watkins and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench add their talents when needed, butBlinders Onis a predominantly solo undertaking. It's an idiosyncratic and often dazzling disc that pushes musical boundaries even further than the increasingly eclectic tendencies of Watkins's full-time band.--Hal Horowitz