Americana Roots

Robert Earl Keen - Ready For Confetti

Reviewed by John Walker

Robert Earl Keen is a Texas classic. He has his own loyal fan following, and those that have long praised his music. To be honest, I have not been one of those in the past. While it was easy to see and hear the talent which flowed from him, his music never struck home with me for some reason. That has now changed with his new release “Ready For Confetti” which just hit the streets.

I believe I always had the misconception that his music was more of a fun gimmick, not including songs which spoke to you or hit you firmly in the chest. It seemed more tongue in cheek than anything. While I enjoy that type of music at times, I normally like more meat and depth mixed in with my music as well. With this new CD, Keen has proven himself to me. He is the real deal, and I was completely wrong in my former perceptions.

While the title cut has its moments, it quite honestly is one of the few low points, leaning more toward my previous conceptions of fun with no depth. Musically, however, it is a fun crowd sing along song which will have the dance floor hopping at his appealing live shows.

As you listen to this CD, make sure you gather yourself as you hit songs #3 through #5, they are the true meat of this record. “I Gotta Go” immediately grabs you from the beginning with its older classic rhythm, and the chorus will stick in your head from the first time you hear it. It is easy to see the roots of this one, create a catchy tag line and chorus, wrap it with some clever story, and you have all the ingredients of a good song.

Keen displays his ability to create in this manner once again with “Lay Down My Brother”. A touching song which shows Keen certainly has the ability to hit you in the heart and give it a firm tug.

The next one is perhaps my favorite due to its unique story. “The Road Goes On and On” is a great song which could be about any current so called country artist, hitting the description perfectly with his lyrics. This one, however, was pointed directly at none other than Toby Keith. Lets allow REK to tell his story from an interview done recently by John T. Davis with the Austin Statesman:

“It’s been some stuff that has happened over the years, but the last thing was that single off his last record (“Bullets in the Gun”). I never pay any attention, but my phone exploded with e-mails and texts about the song; People were saying, how come he took your song and why didn’t he come up with his own song?

Melodically, it’s not dead on top of it, but cadence-wise and story-wise, it’s taken out of (Keen’s song) “The Road Goes On Forever.”

I had a choice to hit back with some kind of lawsuit. But my mother was a lawyer, and I watched people waste their lives in lawsuits. God bless all the lawyers in the world, but I think lawsuits are a waste of life.

So, since I wasn’t about to sue him, so I thought I’d answer in kind. I just wanted to say, stop with the nonsense. So I wrote him a song. It’s no different than Kitty Wells or Hank Thompson singing “(It Wasn’t God Who Made) Honky-Tonk Angels” or classic literary characters like Alexander Pope or Jonathan Swift answering people. You answer them in the way you know how to best answer. There’s a precedent in literature and music for doing that, so that’s what I did.”

Here is an example of the lyrics…skipping the second verse….but you get the idea. It is OUTSTANDING and must be heard to appreciate: 

I don’t care what you say, I  never liked you anyway

Wouldn’t give you the time of day if I had time to spend

You’re malicious and downright cruel, superstitious and so uncool

Best wishes you loudmouth fool, I hope I never see you again

And you’re a regular jack-in-the-box in your clown suit and goldie locks

The original liar’s paradox, you’ll have to Google that!

How in the hell do you think you’ll make it when the real test comes and you just can’t fake it

Your syncophants say, they can’t take it and leave you lying flat

Skip the second verse…

Now ya only rant and rave, piss and moan, and misbehave

You lost your grip on that flag you wave, but you wave it right or wrong

There’s still time to make amends maybe win back some of your old friends

Real cowboys say the party never ends and the road goes on and on.

Got to love it! I respect him so much after reading his interview and hearing his song. Cudos!

After a couple of so so songs which never really grabbed me, Keen throws in a cover….and it floored me when I first heard it. As the song started with the harmonica wailing along, I was thinking “This sounds very familiar”. Then, as soon as he began singing I shouted “I’ll be damned, he is covering a Todd Snider song. Todd is going to LOVE this.” “Play A Train Song” is one of my favorite TS songs. Keen did it justice, and his willingness to include it on his own record again made me appreciate the man even more, because I have interviewed Todd in the past, and know how much he admires REK.

Closing out the record are three more songs which are enjoyable standouts as well. The upbeat old blues feeling “Who Do Man” is a crowd pleaser, and will have everyone moving. REK brings back his own classic “Paint The Town Beige”, and closes with an inspirational song “Soul of Man”, which has some great harmonies, displaying REK’s underrated singing ability.

Produced by fellow Texan legend Lloyd Maines, this one certainly struck a chord with me. It is very enjoyable throughout, and if you are like me and never gave REK a chance, I plead with you…here is your chance to make amends….give it a listen and you will be won over. Mr. Keen, you have earned my respect and another fan to your gathering. Thank you!