The Greencards: Fascination

In their half-decade plus, the formerly AustinTX-based Greencards, foreigners come to settle, have built a reputation for delivering an international vibe to the bluegrass world. And there’s something to that rep, even if it’s not immediately apparent what Australia and the UK (original homes of the trio) have to do with Gypsy melodies and French cafe jazz that the US does not.

Fascination, the Greencards fourth album, tries a lot of things and gets many beautifully right. The title track and “Into the Blue” take country-string-based jazz and blend in Latin rhythm (the former) and raga-cum-Arabia slides (the latter) to great effect. “Three Four Time” channels Trinity Session Cowboy Junkies down to Margot Timmins’ whispery quavers. “Outskirts of Blue” and “Chico Calling” are dreaming songs of love and devotion, sparely wrought. A couple of Gaelic-tinged instrumentals rollick along nicely. But several songs slip into that sort of easy-listening groove that puts neither a shake in my booty nor a tear in my eye. And whenever I hear "Water in the Well," my mind starts playing the Wilson Phillips "Eternal Flame" video.

Ultimately the Greencards go beyond globalism: they’re all over the stylistic map as well. And the only criticism in that statement comes strictly from the fact that some of the styles they hit just aren’t to my taste. Tastes vary; track down Fascination for the tracks you’ll inevitably like.