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As the father and daughter duo, the Hobohemians, Bruce and April Hobart make music. Honest music; no pretense. What you hear is what you get. With original songs that draw on the string band and folk traditions, the Hobohemians have given us a collection of songs that feel as comfortable as a wood fire on a chilly Maine night. April and Bruce are from Maine, and their musical offerings possess the sturdy and genuine qualities for which Maine is known. There are a number of well-crafted songs here. In "I'll Be Right Home," penned by Bruce, gospel harmonies drive home the desire to return to that comfortable place. Bruce gets to sing high lonesome here too, and it sounds mighty fine. The man with the clerical collar in Bruce's "Circuit Rider" is at peace with duties that include naming babies and inspecting for scabies. This fiddling man of God is portrayed in a manner that allows us to accompany him on visits to his holler's faithful. In the lovely "Stories," April relates fond memories of encounters and adventures that tell of catching salamanders, dancing at recitals, and keeping a vase that contained lilacs given to her by a childhood beau. April employs a lilting vocal that perfectly fits the mood of this track. In "Trader's Blues," Bruce's rugged vocal convincingly delivers lyrics that tell of deals for baseball cards featuring Ted Williams, Rocket, Scooter McGruder, and Mo Vaughn. A can of sardines and a bottle of IPA make these deals sweeter still. It's not just the songwriting that will draw you to these songs, however. Listen to the music! Fiddles, guitars, mandolins, and banjos weave confidently around harmonies that glide through chorus and verse. Bob Boothby sits in on banjo on "Brothers," my favorite Hobohemian track. Heather Pierson chips in on piano on four tracks (and backup vocals on "The Lonesome Hobo's Blues") and was the recording engineer of this worthy project. Expert mastering by Toby Mountain delivers a clear, cr! isp sound. As I write these notes, it's twenty-five degrees and the season's first snow is expected during the night. Perfect. Put another log on the fire and cozy up with the Hobohemians.