Robert Earl Keen

What I Really Mean (Koch)

What I Really Mean is Robert Earl Keen’s 11th album. It’s a rare artist who can make that much music and still keep things interesting. Keen succeeds because he never stays in one place too long. Of course he’s always hovering around a sound that’s vaguely country, with lyrics that are equally nebulous, yet he almost always gets the job of entertaining his audience done. With What I Really Mean, Keen paints a new picture of himself. That he succeeds is both a measure of his talent as a songwriter and Rich Brotherton’s fine touch as a producer. There is a hint of Celtic flavor (“The Traveling Storm”), an odd ranchero tune (“A Border Tragedy”), some steamy gospel soul (“Long Chain”), and a roots-rockin’ sing-along (“The Wild Ones”). Capping things is a near spoken-word dreamscape, “The Great Hank,” as surreal and appealing as anything he’s ever done. With the special appearance of Ray Price, the banjo of Danny Barnes, and the curious placement of an occasional trumpet, saxophone, and Northumbrian pipe, Keen continues to sound inspired. Even if it’s not where anyone would have imagined him 11 albums down the road.

***.5

This article appears in May 13 • 2005.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US