The Romans - Dandelion (2025)

The Romans are a folksy, old-timey bluegrass pop-ish band from Croatia and Slovenia – two countries at the Easternmost top of the “boot” of Italy if you’re looking on a map, with shoreline on the Mediterranean Sea. They’ve crafted a blend of luegrass styles with folk and a bit of pop Central European influences all stirred into an intriguing style.

“Joe’s Comeback” starts out the album with sort of a barn dance number with fiddle and reference to Cotton Eyed Joe “where did you come from where did you go where did you come from Cotton Eyed Joe” with a barn dance caller intermittently calling the dance moves. This song features pop singer songwriter Annika Ljungberg in a fresh lively old-timey arrangement.

“Buzz At” is another lively with old timey number rising fiddle, banjo, and honey bee references with courtship innunendo “There’s no more buzz, buzz, buzzing around.” ‘Only Say The Word” is more of a Central European influenced song, musically, with a bit of a flute sounding instrument, accordion and nylon stringed guitar, with Brenna McMillan on guest vocals.

In “Every New Road” and again in ‘Lublaneza” (featuring Bernarda) the sound is more haunting and folk based, with emotive vocals and particularly echoey harmonies in “Lublaneza.”

Later, in “What Ifs” there’s a mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and it’s good old fashioned (or contemporary) affair, and the question is asked: “am I the secret you’re willing to keep?” Then it turns to a duet and the magnetism is irresistible. Later still, on “San Diego” the bluegrass elements are back on lively display. There are two bonus tracks as well, radio edits of “Joe’s Comeback” and “Every New Road”