MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY
MAS (Sugar Hill)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Mutual Admiration Society finds Glen Phillips trading in his band Toad The Wet Sprocket for studio support from Sean Watkins, Sara Watkins and Chris Thile of Nickel Creek, with impressive results. You might guess none of that from the cover, and it seems that Sugar Hill is hoping for some word of mouth to let people know what they have here. If I'm right about this, I hope these words help.

It's a special album, the product of sessions held in the winter of 2000. I don't know why it sat so long, but I'm thankful to whatever forces brought it to release. The pickers from Nickel Creek are just as impeccable as anyone familiar with their various group and solo projects might suspect, and the space their acoustic efforts provide for Phillip's vocals make this some of his best work in any context. Phillip's original material includes some excellent songs ("Sake Of The World" and "Be Careful" are standouts to my ears) and the affectionate cover of Harry Nilsson's "Think About Your Troubles" is simply a treat.

Altogether, the album leaves me with a newfound appreciation of Nickel Creek's skills as accompanists and a stronger interest in Phillips than any of his T.W.S. work inspired. This one's a keeper.

Track List:

Comes A Time * Sake Of The World * Windmills * Be Careful * Running Out * Somewhere Out There * Francesca * Trouble * La Lune * Reprise * Think About Your Troubles

© 2005 - Shaun Dale