Nickel Creek – ‘Hayloft’

The skinny: Veteran, genre-bending bluegrass group Nickel Creek covers Mother Mother’s ‘Hayloft’ – resulting in a track that holds up against the best of today’s pop-rock.

The analysis: Produced by Eric Valentine, this track bleeds the tight, clean production of Good Charlotte, Taking Back Sunday, and other Valentine projects. It’s a fresh sound in the bluegrass world, sitting comfortably, if not uniquely, between the lush ballads and swinging jigs of the remaining tracks.

The rest: The emotional capacity and range of Nickel Creek is always welcome. Check out the beautiful harmonies and arrangement of ‘Where Is Love Now,’ finishing up the album.