What I Really Mean

Robert Earl Keen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 10, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B0007Y8A74
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,461 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #88 in Music > Rock > Singer-Songwriters
  • #90 in Music > Country > Outlaw Country

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Few songwriters are as cinematic as Robert Earl Keen. In the tradition of Keen's classic "The Road Goes on Forever" and "Merry Christmas from the Family," his eleventh album finds the Texas troubadour transforming indelible characters, vivid description, and narrative drive into movies for the ear. He delves into the surreal with "The Great Hank," a spoken-word barroom vignette that features Hank Williams in a time warp (and in drag). He turns a fable about animals into a tale as dark and twisted as film noir in "Mr. Wolf and Mama Bear," and enlists a vocal cameo from Ray Price and a serenade from Mariachi Estrella to provide the soundtrack for the droll story of cantina overindulgence in "A Border Tragedy." Even the tender title song, about the touring musician missing his wife, shows his eye for evocative detail, with one of Keen's warmest vocals to date. Produced by his bandleader/guitarist Rich Brotherton, the album's musically expansive arrangements match the ambition of the storytelling, with guest banjo from the Bad Livers' Danny Barnes, a lovely soprano sax by John Mills on the title cut, and Celtic pipes from E.J. Jones on "The Traveling Storm." Keen may well expand his audience along with his musical range, as the uptempo "The Wild Ones" could pass as a John Hiatt cut, while "Broken End of Love" has an echo of Tom Petty. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What I Really Mean is Buy This CD, May 10, 2005

By 

William T. Vogt Jr. (SOUTH TEXAS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What I Really Mean (Audio CD)

I have been listening to an advance copy of this album for almost two months. I have played it so often that my wife wants me to leave the house. She thinks I have a weird sickness for REK music, which I probably do. That said, I can tell you that this is an amazing CD and probably the best effort of Robert's long career. I think it could be the break out album for the premier singer songwriter from Texas.

Although I liked Farm Fresh Onions, I am really a bigger fan of some of his earlier stuff. Several songs off Bigger Piece of Sky, especially Paint the Town Beige and Crazy Cowboy Dream have always been my favorite REK tunes. I still listen to Picnic often. My favorite songs on it are: Over The Waterfall, Running With The Night and 4th of July.

If you share my love for those early songs, you are really going to like What I Really Mean. The song writing is vintage REK, and the band is excellent. Rich Brotherton may be the most under rated guitar player in the world. The rhythm section is as solid (game) as always on every song. The addition of Danny Barnes on banjo adds nicely to the sound of several tracks.

My favorite cuts on the CD are the title track with its catchy sax, banjo and wonderfully descriptive lyrics. I also love Broken End of Love. Even Bob Dylan hasn't written a song that uses the word metamorphosis. I also like the last cut, Ride, with its bouncy kind of rhythm and great lyrics. My 3-year-old daughter, who is a huge REK fan, likes Ride the best, along with Mama Bear.

If you are already a fan or just curious about Robert's music, you need to buy this CD. You will not be disappointed. Buy it and tell a friend.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His Best Music in Many Years! REK is Back..., July 1, 2005

By 

C. Jones "Charlie" (West Linn, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What I Really Mean (Audio CD)

I have akways liked REK's music and he is so much fun in concert. While he does not have the best voice, he always puts pure emotion into each song. I was not a big fan of "Farm Fresh Onions" or "Gravitational Forces" so it has been over seven years since his last great album ("Walking Distance" in my opinion). I had about given up on Keen putting out relevant new music and going to a live concert to hear the same 20 or 30 songs over and over gets old. I love "The Pary Never Ends" but I worry about an artist that becomes more a "nostolgia act" playing the same "hit" older songs time after time.

Well, "What I Really Mean" is a tight well written classic. REK is at his best when he stays within the limits of his vocal range, delivers a well crafted story song with emotion and depth. Every song on the CD is well worth a listen (no duds in my mind).

The standout songs are the opening track "For Love" (which I think should be the next single), "The Great Hank" an infectious story song about a night watching a Hank Willioms impersonator, and of course the sweet title track "What I Really Mean".

Don't get me wrong the prior albums I spoke of had some great songs on it but way to many mediocre and just plain bad ones in the mix. This CD does not suffer from any defeciencies. You can pop it into your CD player, sing along to every song and enjoy it from beginning to end.

Thanks REK. Your back at the top of your game after all these years. I highly recommend you get this CD and of course a live show is a must!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REK you did it!!!!!!!!!!!, May 13, 2005

By 

inchworm (orlando) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What I Really Mean (Audio CD)

FANTASTIC!!!! BUY THIS ALBUM!! Ever sInce Gringo Honeymoon REK has been working. Searching. Trying different things. I applaud his efforts and have always loved the music, but let me say Robert Earl Keen has finally done it. This album is fantastic. This is the first album I have listened to each track TWICE before moving on to the next song. His songwriting is superb. This CD has the old school REK that we all fell in love with but with that twist he has been working towards for nearly 10 years. He is NOT the pluck pluck yuk yuk performer that he was afraid of becoming. Superb. You just gotta buy this CD. Sit back with a cold one and enjoy. What I really mean is this possibly the best REK album yet!