I must be up front with you, reader, and confess that I’m no expert on jug bands—they never really piqued my interest. I guess I always considered them as unsophisticated music about unsophisticated things (cows, corn, Kentucky bourbon etc.) and I was too much of a townie to appreciate such simplicities. Simultaneously, I always loved the soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? Only now, after listening to Muddy Basin Ramblers’ records for three days straight, do I appreciate the great irony of this situation.
This Taipei-based outfit composed mainly of British and US expats has been slinging banjo, string bass, and washboard across Asia since 2003, with five albums under their belts to date. Singing mostly in English, sometimes Mandarin, and occasionally Cantonese, their music is good ol’ African-American blues, country folk and swing jazz—with a smattering of traditional Chinese music for good measure.
With simple, sweet melodies expertly played—backed by twinkling banjo harmonies and an insistent, thumping bass—Jug Band Millionaire also features novelty instruments, nonsense lyrics, sound effects and other silliness: so many of my favorite things! In fact it reminds me of a stripped-down Spike Jones and His City Slickers. Boy howdy, seems I’ve been a-sleepin’ on this ’ere jug band thing, yes siree.
The record features fourteen genre classics and original num
