by Bill AshfordFew artists will offer the story of a lighthouse, sung in the first person, but Nickel Creek has a flair for the unusual. "The Lighthouse's Tale," is but one of a dozen good reasons to enjoy this self-titled release. Produced by Alison Krauss, it features an eclectic collection of material, original and borrowed. Highlights include the instrumentals "Ode to a Butterfly," "Robin and Marian," and "Pastures New." Perhaps most striking, though, are the evocative vocals, particularly on "Out of the Woods" and the band's cover of "When You Come Back Down" written by Tim O'Brien and Danny O'Keefe. Nickel Creek, the group and album, are altogether exhilarating.