Famed Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen once called the Greencards’ music “the best bluegrass I’ve heard in 20 years.” High praise, sure, and probably right on the money at the time; but it’s been a while since this Austin-formed, Nashville-based trio played anything resembling straight-up bluegrass (or even “newgrass”). The acoustic picking and vocal chops are still as impeccable as they were when the Greencards won Best New Band at the 2004 Austin Music Awards and Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2006 Americana Music Awards (and scored a Grammy nomination in 2007 for Best Country Instrumental). But as demonstrated by the eclectic new avenues explored on this year’s Fascination (the band’s fourth album and first for Sugar Hill), the Greencards now have more than a little gypsy in their souls. But of course, they’ve always been travelers: fiddler Eamon McLoughlin is from England, and mandolin player Kym Warner and bassist/standout lead vocalist Carol Young both hail from Australia. At least the band name still fits.