(Audium) Since first appearing on the music scene with the release of his 1984 debut, the acclaimed No Kinda Dancer, Robert Earl Keen has since gone on to become one of the best known names in Texas Music. He emerged as a talented songwriter who's songs were balanced between well written and insightful narrative ballads and raucous barroom anthems into which he often infused a healthy dose of humor. Since then, through virtually non-stop touring, he's gained a large and faithful following, although he still flies beneath the radar commercially.

Farm Fresh Onions marks REK's 10th release and his first for the Audium label. The disc opens up strongly with the roots rocking "Furnace Fan," a portrait of life in Arizona, a place he notes as being hotter than a furnace fan. While looking for a chance, he concedes "All I Really Have Is Today," in this jangley and melodic roots rocker. A highlight is the disc's lone cover, a terrific take on James McMurty's stark, lonely small town portrait, "Out In The Middle," with Shawn Colvin on duet vocals. REK draws on the old west  for "Train Trek," a chugging country-rocker.

The middle of the disc finds REK veering off and experimenting with different sounds with some mixed results. The title track, "Farm Fresh Onions" features one of his spoken word raps that wanders off into an almost psychedelic jam that winds up just too awkward. "Gone On" is a catchy mid-tempo cajun flavored blues but comes off a little clunky. He fares better with "Floppy Shoes" a funky mid-tempo ode to love. The best of the lot is a burning straight up slow blues "So Sorry Blues" that he handles with surprising adeptness.

The last third of the disc finds him strongly returning to his roots. Another highlight is the hard hitting, western flavored country rocker "Beats The Devil." He next offers up he does best, outstanding narrative ballads, with the poignantly aching "These Years" and the starkly haunting "Famous Words." The disc closes out with the country weeper telling the tale of how life isn't always what you planned in "Let The Music Play."

Farm Fresh Onions isn't Robert Earl Keen's best effort, a rather mixed bag towards the middle when he tries to stretch out a bit and try on a few new different styles. However, when he sticks to what he does best, the disc still provides some outstanding writing that may not always reach the heights of some of his previous work, but there are several very strong and worthy gems sprinkled throughout.    

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack October 2003