Four Swedes with a thing for the old-timey. That is, everything from Tin Pan Alley and ragtime to blues and jazz, played on banjo, harp, guitar, tuba and a few other instruments that are picked up from time to time. For those who get the reference, this is very similar to a rough-hewn Leon Redbone.

The Family Jukebox How the Moon Was Strung Up on a Nail and Nine Other Cocktails (self-released)

The Family Jukebox isn't that interested in authentic anything, dropping these pieces (some old, some not) into its own distinctively ageless milieu. The feel is old, but anything past a superficial listen will pick up on the intriguing modern touches--starting with the sparkling production sound. This album sounds alive!

The combination of so many different styles and ideas creates a space that makes it possible to understand the links (some real, some manufactured) between all of those sounds that gets bound up in "americana" these days. Just a reminder: these guys are Swedish. But damn if they don't sound like buskers on a New Orleans wharf riffing on whatever new melody is floating in the breeze.

The album title (and cover) might lead a listener to think that this might be an overly-precious set. Not at all. The Family Jukebox bumps and rumbles its way through a large pile of American music, managing to produce a unique take on days gone by. Far too intricate to dismiss and far too fun to put down. A hearty stew for the coming winter.

Jon Worley