Musical talent is often easy to identify, although it does not always come in such a straightforward package. Chris Thile, the prodigy mandolin player of Nickel Creek, released his fourth solo album last Tuesday and it is a gem.

“How to grow a woman from the ground” is as seamless as it is interesting.

The songs flow effortlessly one to another, with the listener belatedly realizing the last track has ended and the next one started, but not in a way that becomes staid or boring. In looking back at the whole album, the songs are all quite diverse.

This album also marks Thile returning to his bluegrass roots, which is not to say that this album has no surprises.

Two of them are covers of the Strokes “Heart in the Cage” which is great and the White Strips’ song “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground.”

That song, track two, is one of the highlights on the album, with an up tempo.

Thile’s vocals have just the right amount of lighthearted, teasing tones.

The riffs take on a new song when played expertly by Thile.

Track three, “Stay away” becomes the perfect contrast. This song is reverent almost still with its melancholy tone and matching lyrics, that hopes “friends I thought I’d lost in towns I’ve never been/just don’t ever make me fall in love again.”

The mandolin here is slower but in no way boring or less precise. Thile makes the mandolin cry.

The only none bluegrass songs on the album, “I’m yours if you want me,” track 13, shows Thile’s unique vocal style.

The song starts out only his voice and him plucking the mandolin, showcasing the lyrics in an almost a capella setting.

“I’m scared of your body/and I’m scared of your soul/but I’d rather be a letdown/than let being with you go.”

And slowly other instruments join in, which gives the song depth without changing the basic body.

Another highly enjoyable songs is track five, “Wayside (back in time),” can only be described as an energetic rollick.

The song is fun and, of course, his playing is flawless and his voice has the perfect amount of country twang to make the lyrics work.

This album leaves little to complain about the mandolin work is genius and Thile’s back musicians do their jobs perfectly meshing with Thile without drowning him out.

The only part of the album that could possibly draw complaints is the lyrics which are solid, but no one could really say they are profound poetry or tell great stories.

But they highlight his amazing playing and add to the experience of the album.

If you like bluegrass go and buy this album today, if you aren’t sure you like bluegrass this is the album to test yourself on, and if you don’t like bluegrasss buy it anyway and appreciate this master musicians at work and expand your horizon. A little growing never hurt anyone.