My Squirrel Nut Zippers disc has been keeping me awake. I can hear it sniffling and sobbing in my CD player, miserable among all those Tori Amos and Dread Zeppelin discs. I know she's lonely, but what can I do?

Providence has smiled upon both of us. In the big box-o-discs that the High Epopt of Music, Ryan Schreiber sent me, was The Blue Rags' Rag-N-Roll. I could almost hear her eyelashes fluttering at this raw and meaty companion. I snuggled it in the player next to her, and set down for a listen. Rag-N-Roll is an expression of the debauchery of a forgotten era, much like the Zippers' Hot, but R-N-R is the debauchery that goes on in the back alleys and ghetto ginhouses. Envision upright pianos, rolled-up sleeves, sawdust on the floors, and thoroughly chewed cigar stubs. Truly authentic with howls of delight at the best moments, claps and minimal production, it's modern ragtime to remind us that partying has been around even longer than our parents. Six original tracks and seven covers and arrangements of traditional songs, including one by the greats George and Ira Gershwin. Pure unabashed retro-energy without a hint of irony but plenty of drunken laughs. Ragtime afficionados and Squirrel Nut Zippers fans should take note. Hey, why is my CD player rocking?

-James P. Wisdom