Release Date: 10 May, 2005
Audio CD
Tracks
- for love
- mr. wolf and mamabear
- what I really mean
- the great hank
- the wild ones
- long chain
- broken end of love
- the dark side of the world
- the traveling storm
- a border tragedy
- ride
|
Rating 5.0
Much better than Farm FreshI've been a long time fan of REK. Seen his live shows from NC to CA and never disappointed. I thought Farm Fresh Onions blew, but loved everything that came before it. REK is definitly back on track with this one. It will take it's rightful place in my REK catalog, unlike Farm Fresh which is somewhere buried in my garage collecting dust.
What I Really Mean is must have for REK fans.It Grows on YouI confess, I just got back from seeing Keen live, so my review may be biased by having seen many of these songs performed live.
When I first got the CD, my reaction was mixed. Some songs (For Love, Mr. Wolf & Mamabear, and Traveling Storm), I fell in love with immediately. What is it about this guy? Keen can't sing, he can't play guitar very well (not that you'd notice with Rich Brotherton's fingers flying at about 600 frets per second), but he can tell a story in three minutes better than most writers can in 300 pages. His simple phrases rarely fail to evoke strong emotions and vivid pictures.
It took several days for the other songs to grow on me... I think it was simply too much to take in the first time, like trying to read six new books at once. You just can't grasp it all until the stories become old and familiar.
As a Keen fan, I'd say this is his best record ever, but I still recommend new listeners grab Gringo Honeymoon or No. 2 Live Dinner first.
REK deserves more recognitionI must admit that I'd heard of REK from way back, and that I rediscoved him due to the Merry Christmas from the Family video - which truly is hilarious. But I digress, after buying the "Live from Austin" CD and "#2 Live Dinner" I bought this one. It is different from some of his earlier albums, but it definitely grows on you.
REK's songwriting skills are in top form. Country artists tell tales and stories with their music and his are some of the best. The "Great Hank" is daring and funny while "What I Really Mean" is a touching song for his wife.
Look, just buy the album and tell a friend or two, it's good music that should be enjoyed by more folks. However, don't tell too many as I won't be able to enjoy the show in the intimacy that I did last month. |
|
