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Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?

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MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FAMILY


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McGrath of Harlow 23 Feb 08 - 04:47 PM
SouthernCelt 23 Feb 08 - 04:37 PM
Lonesome EJ 23 Feb 08 - 03:43 PM
Scoville 09 Apr 07 - 10:56 AM
GUEST,Texas Guest 08 Apr 07 - 10:32 PM
Arkie 08 Apr 07 - 07:38 PM
GUEST,Scoville in Texas 07 Apr 07 - 11:07 PM
PSzymeczek 07 Apr 07 - 10:00 PM
GUEST,SteerbySteer 26 Apr 05 - 03:01 PM
PoppaGator 28 Feb 05 - 06:18 PM
Once Famous 27 Feb 05 - 07:58 PM
GUEST,Art Thieme 27 Feb 05 - 06:58 PM
GUEST 27 Feb 05 - 12:10 PM
Arkie 26 Feb 05 - 09:04 PM
Joe Offer 26 Feb 05 - 08:49 PM
GUEST 26 Feb 05 - 08:35 PM
Teresa 26 Feb 05 - 08:34 PM
katlaughing 26 Feb 05 - 08:08 PM
Clinton Hammond 26 Feb 05 - 08:03 PM
GUEST,Art Thieme 26 Feb 05 - 06:24 PM
Clinton Hammond 26 Feb 05 - 03:32 AM
GUEST 26 Feb 05 - 02:43 AM
katlaughing 26 Feb 05 - 02:28 AM
DADGBE 26 Feb 05 - 01:21 AM
Scoville 26 Feb 05 - 12:04 AM
GUEST,punkfolkrocker 25 Feb 05 - 11:00 PM
Q (Frank Staplin) 25 Feb 05 - 10:48 PM
Clinton Hammond 25 Feb 05 - 06:58 PM
GUEST,Wesley S 25 Feb 05 - 05:48 PM
PoppaGator 25 Feb 05 - 05:30 PM
katlaughing 25 Feb 05 - 05:25 PM
Wesley S 25 Feb 05 - 03:36 PM
Clinton Hammond 25 Feb 05 - 03:28 PM
GUEST,Guest, Sandra 25 Feb 05 - 02:50 PM
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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 04:47 PM

Skimmed through this - "Their necks may be red but their money is green." That's a great line for a song!


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 04:37 PM

Chiming in late on this...Keen is one of the best out there today and crossing several genres in his various albums...some modern country, some folky ballads, some of what I like to term 'Southern Gothic" ("In Arkansas"), some that are clearly Texas-songwriter influenced and some that combine all forms such as his multi-song suite centered around "Carolina".

He even does a few that can only be considered novelty songs, e.g., "Merry Christmas from the Family" and its sequel (that my memory fails on the title of), and then there's always "That Buckin' Song."

My personal favorites include "For Love", "The Wild Ones", and "Ride", none of which have I ever heard of anyone else covering.

...just my 2 cents on REK, Jr.

SC


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 03:43 PM

Keen has a very derivative style, one in which you clearly hear his influences. I hear Dylan, Springsteen, John Prine, Townes van Zandt, and James McMurtry. And that's some good company to keep!


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: Scoville
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 10:56 AM

I don't care how he's tagged, either, but around here he's considered to be a similar vein as Guy Clark (who is, again, often considered alt country), who seems to be reasonably popular on this [folk] forum. Both have a lot of TVZ influence.


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 10:32 PM

Doesn't matter what we all call Keen - he is what he is and what he is is what he says he is. Me, I like the "Best Western" tag; down here most folks would call him "Americana" and most of the airplay he gets (to my knowledge, anyway)is on stations that play a whole lot of Americana music. Throw him in a pot with Kevin Welch and Ray Wylie Hubbard and call him whatever you want - I'll call him "pretty damned good." Cheers.


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: Arkie
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 07:38 PM

I would not consider Keen's music folk music and really do not know why anyone feels the need to force him into that category. But he writes some excellent songs and does not mind singing good songs by other writers. I see no need to put any label on his music. It should just be enjoyed.


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: GUEST,Scoville in Texas
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 11:07 PM

SteerBySteer is right: He's in that weird folk/country/rock Austin thing. We consider it legitimately all of those at once (after all, country music is one of our traditions), and often a few other things as well.


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: PSzymeczek
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 10:00 PM

If "Feelin'Good Again" isn't folk, it comes darn close.


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: GUEST,SteerbySteer
Date: 26 Apr 05 - 03:01 PM

FYI
Some of you may already know, but there is a type of music called Texas Music. It is a mix of Country, Bluegrass, Folk and Rock n Roll. REK is the King of Texas Music. Outside of Texas, I think they prefer to call of Alt. Country. REK is one of the best performers I have ever seen.

This is what Robert has to say about it:

"Lot's of people ask me what kind of music I play, I really don't know. I was lying in a motel room one night looking out the window, thinking about it and it just sorta came to me....I play...BEST WESTERN". - REK, House Of Blues, Hollywood, CA 2004


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:18 PM

No offense to country folk; sorry to have used the term "redneck."

Also, I really wasn't suggesting that Mr. Keen would be better off being Irish (no more so than anyone else, anyway). Just trying for a laugh...


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: Once Famous
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 07:58 PM

I don't consider him folk either.

Thankfully, he's a country artist.


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 06:58 PM

Guest,

Please. Let's just differ and leave it at that. No need to be rude.

Art Thieme


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 12:10 PM

"some traditional folks wouldn't consider him folk"

Screw 'em!

:-P


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: Arkie
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 09:04 PM

Both Mallett and Keen wrote songs called "The Road Goes on Forever". Keen does take some getting used to. You might say he is an acquired taste. The first recording I heard of his, I did not care for at all. He was on Austin City Limits and I watched a little. Then I began searching for a recording of Sonora's Death Row and was a bit disappointed that all I could find at the time was Keen's version, but I bought the tape anyway. To my surprise I liked well over half the songs on the tape. Since then I have enjoyed many songs done by Robert Earl Keen including, Shades of Gray, Jessie With the Long Hair Hanging Down, Armadillo Jackal, Then Came Lo Mein, and Whenever Kindness Fails.


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Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:49 PM

Ah, good excuse to publicize both songs:
  • Keen's Road
  • Mallett's Road

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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: GUEST
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:35 PM

    Didn't Dave Mallett write "The road goes on forever"? Or is that a different road?


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Teresa
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:34 PM

    Well, some traditional folks wouldn't consider him folk. Personally, I like him, and I don't like labels.

    The only time I saw him perform was at a bluegrass festival in the late 80s. Really liked that dry wit.

    Teresa


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: katlaughing
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:08 PM

    Consider it done, Art. One of my favs of his is Cristabel.


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Clinton Hammond
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:03 PM

    The Road Goes On Forever... Damn fine song...

    The best song ABOUT REK Jr, in my book, is 'Beer Run' by Todd Snider

    :-)


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: GUEST,Art Thieme
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 06:24 PM

    In that REK sometimes writes songs that tell interesting ballad-like stories, some of you might surely say that he is folk.

    He played on the old live NPR radio show that Larry Rand and I hosted in Chicago in the 1980s called the FLEA MARKET. We were billed as a folk festival of the air. So, again, some would say that he was folk. Personally though, if what you're asking for is my personal take on this, I don't think he's a folksinger. Aside from saying that, I really liked him a lot---and I still like his music.

    BUT that song about the "road never ending" with Sonny and Cher raising hell and moving on down the road like Hunter S. Thompson on an overdose of coffee, No Doze, and 300 ground-up Pearly Gates morning glory seeds---well, that's just one of the most evocative lyrics ever written from my point of view. That one song, when Mr. Robert Earl Keen did it that Sunday afternoon at the Old Town School Of Folk Music, made me a fan of his for life. I've not heard anything he's done over the last decade or so because cash is tight here and I won't take a chance on many CDs these days. But if anyone wants to send one of 'em to me, that'd be very cool!!

    Thanks in front,

    Art Thieme (Peru, Illinois 61354)


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Clinton Hammond
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 03:32 AM

    DADGBE said it best, "Don't give a flying damn about the label, he's GREAT!"


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: GUEST
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 02:43 AM

    Not even close to the GREATS. He is a wannabe. Some original material but the broken chording yeeechhhh! Good for the masses and well marketed. Comparable to the Kendal Jackson label among wines.


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: katlaughing
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 02:28 AM

    I think he's right up there with the late Dave Carter and his partner Tracy Grammar, as well as the fellah in this thread. In fact McMurtry's voice reminded me a lot of REK when I first heard him.


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: DADGBE
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 01:21 AM

    Don't give a flying damn about the label, he's GREAT!


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Scoville
    Date: 26 Feb 05 - 12:04 AM

    I'd call him country but the line can get really blurry. Not that it matters . . .


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 11:00 PM

    i want to be payed with plates of prime sizzling sausages mashed potato baked beans and onion-gravy
    and a few gallons of traditional farmhouse cider..

    ..money would be good as well...


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Q (Frank Staplin)
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 10:48 PM

    Love those rednecks!


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Clinton Hammond
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 06:58 PM

    Ya... those 'rednecks' pay his bills!

    And they sure know how to have fun!

    And well, the world has more than enough frigg'n "Irish Folkies" already


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: GUEST,Wesley S
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 05:48 PM

    Rednecks have been responsible for Robert Earl being able to make his house payments. I'll bet he was able to buy a truck too. Their necks maybe red but their money is green.


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: PoppaGator
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 05:30 PM

    This guy was obviously in the wrong branch of folk music.

    If he had taken up Irish music, he could have been enjoying whiskey and Guinness all along, and wouldn't have to hang out with all those rednecks.

    ;^)


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: katlaughing
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 05:25 PM

    **BG** good one Wesley!

    I agree with Clinton...YES! Love his stuff!


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Wesley S
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 03:36 PM

    According to what Robert Earl said once at a concert : When he was booked as a folk act he was invited by his fans after concerts to join them for lentil soup and tea. But now that he's booked as a country artist his fans invite him to have some BBQ and bourbon. He says he prefers the treatment he gets as a country singer.


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    Subject: RE: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: Clinton Hammond
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 03:28 PM

    Yes!

    Folkin' great folk at that too!

    9/10ths of folkies should be HALF as good as REK Jr.


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    Subject: Robert Earl Keen, is he 'folk'?
    From: GUEST,Guest, Sandra
    Date: 25 Feb 05 - 02:50 PM

    I'm expanding my musical horizons, and
    I happened upon this guy.

    Love reading Mudcat! Thanks!
    Sandra


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