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Track Listings
| 1. The Rose Hotel |
| 2. Flyin' Shoes |
| 3. Throwin' Rocks |
| 4. 10,000 Chinese Walk Into A Bar |
| 5. Something I Do |
| 6. The Man Behind The Drums |
| 7. Goodbye Cleveland |
| 8. Laughing River |
| 9. On And On |
| 10. Village Inn |
| 11. Wireless In Heaven |
Editorial Reviews
From the Artist
"I would love to have been one of the great singers in the world -- like Vince Gill or someone like that -- even if it was just for one hour," says Robert Earl Keen. "But I really feel like my gift is writing songs. That's just there and it's always been there. I don't know why, but I always have stories -- they don't all have to be true, just good. If I could put a subtitle on my best songs, it would be `based on a good story.'"
"You can tell when you play for people who never heard of you,"... "But winning people over - that's at the goal at the heart of every great performer. You try to win people over."
Product Description
Long-awaited 2009 album from the singer/songwriter. The Rose Hotel was produced by the iconic Lloyd Maines and features musical assistance from Billy Bob Thornton, Greg Brown and the legendary Robert Earl Keen Band. Also appearing are Danny Barnes, Buck Allen, Drew Womack and Deani Flemings. You might just check-in and decide to stay awhile!
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have been listening to an advance copy of this album for the last month. After many, many spins, I can say with conviction that this is the best album of Robert Earl Keen's celebrated career.
The record really displays Robert's impressive songwriting talent. With each new album, it becomes more apparent that Robert is keeping alive the tradition of great Texas songwriters. The torch has now been passed from Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson and Billy Joe Shaver to Robert Earl Keen. There are very few modern writers who consistently turn out songs of this quality.
These new original songs, which include Rose Hotel, Something That I Do, Throwin' Rocks, Village Inn and Wireless in Heaven, are all good examples of the clever song pictures that come from the mind of REK. A number of different influences are found in his songs. There is a mix of traditional country themes, Robert's twisted humor and a dash of the darkness of Cormac McCarthy combined in his personal view of the world. Robert is able to take common events and turn them into songs that say a lot about the world we inhabit. He is able to avoid the chiches that are found in most country songs being written in Nashville these days.
Having been familiar with most of the original songs on the album in earlier acoustic versions, it was exciting to hear them with the backing of the band. If you have seen Robert's live show, you know that the players in his band are very talented. Rich Brotherton (guitar) and Bill Whitbeck (Bass) are fans and students of great music and their playing reflects it. Marty Muse has great touch on the steel guitar. Tom Van Schaik always lays down a solid foundation with the drums. Their inspired playing at the live shows has finally been captured on an album.
Here are some of my impressions of the new songs. The album opens with Rose Hotel, which contains some vintage REK story telling. I really like the chorus of Sometimes you run/ Sometimes you fall/stall. There is a nice transition on the break from Rich (lead) to Marty (steel guitar). Robert has always had great affinity for the songs of Townes Van Zandt. Flyin' Shoes really fits his voice. The playing of the band and especially Bill's bass at the beginning is excellent. Compare this cut to Steve Earle's covers on Townes and Earle's work is exposed for the boring crap that is it. Throwin' Rocks sounds like it could have been on Farm Fresh Onions. It has great keyboards and backup singing. Something That I Do is a nice example of Robert's whimsical song writing. On The Man Behind The Drums, Robert sings about the great Levon Helm. What's not to like about that? Village Inn is probably the best song ever written about a motel. It has a very pretty melody that reminds me of Road To Nowhere/Carolina on Walking Distance. Wireless in Heaven is a nice piece of REK wit. It is funny as hell.
If you are already a Robert Earl Keen fan, you are going to love this album. If you are not familiar with his music, this is a good place to start. Check in to The Rose Hotel today!
The record really displays Robert's impressive songwriting talent. With each new album, it becomes more apparent that Robert is keeping alive the tradition of great Texas songwriters. The torch has now been passed from Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson and Billy Joe Shaver to Robert Earl Keen. There are very few modern writers who consistently turn out songs of this quality.
These new original songs, which include Rose Hotel, Something That I Do, Throwin' Rocks, Village Inn and Wireless in Heaven, are all good examples of the clever song pictures that come from the mind of REK. A number of different influences are found in his songs. There is a mix of traditional country themes, Robert's twisted humor and a dash of the darkness of Cormac McCarthy combined in his personal view of the world. Robert is able to take common events and turn them into songs that say a lot about the world we inhabit. He is able to avoid the chiches that are found in most country songs being written in Nashville these days.
Having been familiar with most of the original songs on the album in earlier acoustic versions, it was exciting to hear them with the backing of the band. If you have seen Robert's live show, you know that the players in his band are very talented. Rich Brotherton (guitar) and Bill Whitbeck (Bass) are fans and students of great music and their playing reflects it. Marty Muse has great touch on the steel guitar. Tom Van Schaik always lays down a solid foundation with the drums. Their inspired playing at the live shows has finally been captured on an album.
Here are some of my impressions of the new songs. The album opens with Rose Hotel, which contains some vintage REK story telling. I really like the chorus of Sometimes you run/ Sometimes you fall/stall. There is a nice transition on the break from Rich (lead) to Marty (steel guitar). Robert has always had great affinity for the songs of Townes Van Zandt. Flyin' Shoes really fits his voice. The playing of the band and especially Bill's bass at the beginning is excellent. Compare this cut to Steve Earle's covers on Townes and Earle's work is exposed for the boring crap that is it. Throwin' Rocks sounds like it could have been on Farm Fresh Onions. It has great keyboards and backup singing. Something That I Do is a nice example of Robert's whimsical song writing. On The Man Behind The Drums, Robert sings about the great Levon Helm. What's not to like about that? Village Inn is probably the best song ever written about a motel. It has a very pretty melody that reminds me of Road To Nowhere/Carolina on Walking Distance. Wireless in Heaven is a nice piece of REK wit. It is funny as hell.
If you are already a Robert Earl Keen fan, you are going to love this album. If you are not familiar with his music, this is a good place to start. Check in to The Rose Hotel today!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have waited several weeks to review this, while listening to the CD, hoping it would grow on me. I have long been a huge fan of Robert Earl Keen, and generally can listen to his CD's over and over without growing tired of them, but I am sad to say that this CD, with the exception of 'The Rose Hotel' and 'Wireless in Heaven' really does not do much for me. I have never before had to try to let one of his CD's 'grow' on me, I have always loved them at first listen.
The song '10,000 Chinese Walk Into A Bar' I cannot stand to listen to. I have to skip that track, something I have not done since I skipped Yoko Ono's tracks that were in-between John Lennon's on one of his albums. 'Village Inn' sounds like it was composed by reading an advertisement of the place. 'Something I Do' may be true, but it is a yawner. I do not find myself singing any of the songs during the day, or thinking about the lyrics.
There is one thing that is absolutely outstanding on the CD, and to me it makes it well worth buying- and that is the banjo playing. The banjo player has to be the very best I have ever heard, and he is the bright spot and the salvation of the CD.
It is a shame that there are not any songs that I truly love, songs like 'What I Really Mean', 'Feeling Good Again', 'A Border Tragedy', 'Let the Music Play', 'Gringo Honeymoon', and on and on I could go....
The song '10,000 Chinese Walk Into A Bar' I cannot stand to listen to. I have to skip that track, something I have not done since I skipped Yoko Ono's tracks that were in-between John Lennon's on one of his albums. 'Village Inn' sounds like it was composed by reading an advertisement of the place. 'Something I Do' may be true, but it is a yawner. I do not find myself singing any of the songs during the day, or thinking about the lyrics.
There is one thing that is absolutely outstanding on the CD, and to me it makes it well worth buying- and that is the banjo playing. The banjo player has to be the very best I have ever heard, and he is the bright spot and the salvation of the CD.
It is a shame that there are not any songs that I truly love, songs like 'What I Really Mean', 'Feeling Good Again', 'A Border Tragedy', 'Let the Music Play', 'Gringo Honeymoon', and on and on I could go....
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By dennis piper
Format:MP3 Music
The Amazon exclusive version contains the song Deep Blue Summer but omits the song Village Inn which IS on the hard CD version. The apple version is a $1 more but has a 12th song Little 67 172....and has the digital booklet.... its sad you cant get all 13 of these songs on a "complete version" of this record. I don't know if this is the record company thinking it can make a few extra bucks, but it stinks.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Liked Throwin Rocks Skippin Stones
I bought the CD for one song. I got that and liked it but was disappointed in the other cuts.
Published 1 month ago by Robert L. Stevens
4.0 out of 5 stars
VINYL is mellower than CD, thankfully.
Roots music should not be hotly compressed; it needs to breathe. This vinyl does just that. The playing surface is very quiet and the music is fittingly just so much more laid... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Geee!
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another solid offering from REK. I wanted great.
I think this is my 12th REK album, and like all of the others, there are songs I really like, and songs I skip. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Dave Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
REK'S BEST
I've got 'em all, and this is far and away his best effort. I've been giving this CD a lot of air time on KFOK LP-FM, Georgetown. CA.
Published on May 26, 2010 by Catherine A. Rohm
5.0 out of 5 stars
But you have to get all the songs
At first listen, as I've found with several REK offerings, this CD didn't do much for me. Now that I've given it a spin a few times, I'm really into it - in fact I enjoy every... Read more
Published on February 10, 2010 by T. Johnson
1.0 out of 5 stars
REK -- how could you?
This was my most disappointing CD purchase of 2009, and I buy alot of music. I love Robert Earl Keen and this loser was a mishmash of styles, bar music, and just lousy songwriting. Read more
Published on December 28, 2009 by Big John
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Great, But Not Bad Either
If you like Keen's sense of humor it is present aplenty in The Rose Hotel. While there's nothing groundbreaking on this outing, it is solid for the most part. Read more
Published on December 21, 2009 by Ogg Oggelby
4.0 out of 5 stars
Check in anytime
Was it worth waiting four years for this CD? Heck yes. Robert Earl Keen's obviously been busy working that writing talent in his recording hiatus. Read more
Published on December 16, 2009 by R. Kyle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ahh, Robert Earl Keen, my FAVORITE singer.
This is my 14th Robert Earl Keen "album". I do declare, his stuff is the best!
Published on November 24, 2009 by Pearl Ann Curran
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it :~)
Keen's having fun again, there's some great ones on here. Not as folky as his old stuff, but it's good nonetheless!
Published on November 24, 2009 by Gruengo
