“My Blue Garden,” the new album by Annie and Rod Capps, abounds with new twists on old themes. These well-crafted songs live in mostly familiar territory, but it’s seen in original ways.

The best song on the album may be the opener, “Serenity Road”, a wistful nod to times that are changing, and not necessarily for the better. It’s a well-worn idea, of course, but the Capps give it a different spin. The title metaphor can’t help but recall “Big Yellow Taxi,” which only lends the lyric added depth.

“Honey Sugar Baby Mine” echoes the old folk chestnut “Crawdad Song” (and “Fishin’ Blues,”, too), both lyrically and musically. But it's irresistible and still sounds fresh. This basic scene has been sketched endless times in countless songs over the years, but I’m not sure it’s ever been done better.

Listen to Annie and Rod Capps “Honey, Sugar, Baby, Mine” (MP3).

“Everything Good” offers a portrait of star-crossed lovers — again, familiar ground. But with great lines like “Until the barroom lights come up, he’s the one she loves,” it doesn’t feel that way.

“Someone Who Knows” is a word of caution to a young woman making mistakes the narrator recognizes all too well. “Another Day” feels like an outtake from a Mary Chapin Carpenter album, and I mean that in a good way. And when it comes to revisiting old themes, the title song outdoes itself — weaving together Jack and the beanstalk, Adam and Eve, and the cow jumping over the moon into a cohesive (if hard to describe) whole.

The Capps’ basic sound sits somewhere in the middle of the rootsy sort of Americana/folk that so many in this area do so well — and this duo is among the best. Both halves of this Chelsea-based married couple play guitar, and Annie sings lead.

On this album, they are backed by a number of names familiar from the regional folk scene, with Jason Dennie’s mandolin getting special billing. Throughout, the playing is spirited and flawless, and the recording is cleanly and crisply produced (by Glenn Brown and the couple). The Capps’ “Blue Garden” is a perfect place to spend some time on a summer afternoon.

Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at bobneedham@annarbor.com.

"My Blue Garden" is available on Annie and Rod Capps' web site.

The Capps' upcoming public performances include the Saline Summer Music Series, downtown Saline, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14; the free music series at Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room, 114 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15; the "Rockin' at the Roadhouse" series at Zingerman's Roadhouse, 2501 Jackson Ave., 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9; and festival appearances at Hollerfest in Brooklyn Aug. 21 and Dancing in the Streets in downtown Ann Arbor on Sept. 6. Visit their web site for more.