Robert Earl Keen

OK, someone list top five albums for me. All I have is West Textures. I've avoided the guy b/c of the big aggy following, but it's probably time I get over that.
 
i like #2 live dinner, though i'm sure "purists" probably don't
 
1. Walking Distance
2. Gringo Honeymoon
3. #2 Live Diner
4. Picnic
5. Bigger Piece of Sky
6. West Textures
7. Farm Fresh Onions

Never was too high on Gravitational Forces. Live at the Ryman is a good, live best of REK compilation.
 
1. No Kinda Dancer
2. #2 Live Dinner
3. the Live Album
4. Bigger Piece of Sky
5. Gringo Honeymoon

Still Really good but not quite up to those IMO : West Textures, Walking Distance, Gravitational Forces

Not as good but still not bad: Farm Fresh Onions and What I Really Mean, Picnic

For beginners, definitley pick up #2 Live Dinner. It's a great introduction. Then go pick up No Kinda Dancer for the other side of REK.
 
A little REK talk will always break my silence. It's been a while since I posted.

REK is a definite must see for anyone who likes a good band and a songwriter committed to the meaning and truth of a song.

My top suggestions to a new listener would be:
-#2 Live Dinner
-Gringo Honeymoon
-Bigger Piece of Sky

My Own personal list:
1. Walking Distance (Feeling Good Again puts this album at the top and the Sequence of about 4 or 5 songs that all string together with a common theme and a common transitional beat between them is genius in my opinion)
2. Picnic (It may lack any of the real staples but it is solid all the way through)
3. Gringo Honeymoon (I would listen to Fran Drescher recite the lyrics in Tom Ames' Prayer, Lonely Feeling, Lynneville Train and some others. REK has a knack for songwriting but even records some work of others that you would swear he wrote himself. Merry Christmas and BBQ push this from #2 to #3 on my list)
4. Bigger Piece of Sky (This was the album that transitioned REK from the slow gallop accoustic sound to a quality band sound)
5. #2 Live Dinner (The best idea of what it is like to see REK live)
6. West Textures (His best work before the transition)
7. (tie) What I Really Mean and Farm Fresh Onions (Both of the albums have some great songs and some songs that seem a bit like REK and the band were experimenting. For what they are worth, I liked the experiments too.)
8. (tie) Live at the Ryman, Live from Austin Texas, The Live Album (All are a good measure of some of the progressions REK has made and how his greatness was present early on and still is)
9. Gravitational Forces (Doesn't frequent the CD rotation)
10. No Kinda Dancer (I think I just wore this one out too much when I first started listening back in about 1990)

As for the discussion of where REK stand on the spectrum from Pat Green and Cory Morrow to Guy Clark and Willie Nelson...

I use the George Strait analogy. If it weren't for greats like Bob Wills, Hank Sr. and George Jones, we would not have had George Strait. Thank god for them, BUT... If it were not for George Strait we would not have Tracey Lawrence, Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney... don't blame George.

REK is the reason for PG, CM, Roger Creager, Charlie Robison, Jack Ingram and so many more. REK took things from Guy Clark and Willie and Townes and others and then made them cool to listen to for aggy in denim, a hippie in tiedye, a frat kid in cargo shorts, an older couple celebrating an aniversary, a guy in shirt and tie that just left the office and three brothers that have a bound that only grows stronger when they hold their beers high and sing along... "Feeling Good Again!!!"... all with in a 20 squre foot area from the front of the stage.

Thank the greats for REK... I know he does. Don't blame REK if you don't like Pat Green.
 
If you want to talk real frat country, it's Cory Morrow, cuz I used to see him and hang out with him and those guys at the EX house. REK has infinitely more talent than PG(who I've grown to tolerate) and CM. REK may be an aggie but he did get his start at UT frat houses building a following. Honestly nothing wrong with that. If folks are willing to put you in front of an audience, thats all you want as an artist.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I've picked up tickets for the Stubbs show on 6/20. Got some listening to do beforehand.
 
CR's "Life of the Party" album was solid. Good tracks included "My Hometown," "Sunset Boulevard," and "Light of Loving County." IMO, "Loving County" is a songwriting effort worthy of greats like Fromholz, Clark, Keen, etc.

However, CR has mostly put out a lot of over-produced, Nashville-style drivel since "Life of the Party." I did like the duet track "El Cerrito Place" that he did with Natalie Maines, but his stuff has otherwise been uninteresting to me since about 2000.
 
Being a mid 1990's UT alum, we listened to the **** out of REK back then. I guess I was in school when Gringo Honeymoon and No. 2 Live Dinner came out. I can't even count how many of his shows I've seen- Stubb's, Austin Music Hall, his 4th of July picnic in Kerrville one year, etc. etc. He also used to play a couple of times a year in NYC when I lived there right after college and we would always catch those shows as well.

I guess I got burned out on REK b/c I don't listen to him much anymore but I might fire some up now.
 
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