On September 29, Lost Highway will release "The Rose Hotel," the new album from highly-acclaimed singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen. The Rose Hotel is Keen's first studio album in four years and the 15th release for one of the Americana movement's true pioneers. Keen comes from a long tradition of Texas songwriters, of which he has become one of the Lone Star State's most respected and adored.Keen is a master storyteller and wordsmith who can maneuver effortlessly from a poignant, heart-felt love song to a roof-raising barroom anthem, and in true Robert Earl Keen fashion, all things in between. His repertoire is overflowing with Southern-styled vignettes inspired by everyday life and The Rose Hotel is a prime example.
The Rose Hotel is a collection of 11 songs, including cove rs of Townes Van Zandt's "Flying Shoes" and Greg Brown's "Laughing River" (a duet with Brown). Keen's unique sense of irony, satire and wit is felt throughout The Rose Hotel particularly on the tracks "10,000 Chinese Walk Into A Bar" (featuring vocals by Billy Bob Thornton) and the cynical "Wireless In Heaven". At the core of Keen's music have always been the stories, a unifying theme throughout his 20+ years of recording. The Rose Hotel continues that tradition right from the beginning with the opening title track and "The Man Behind The Drums", an homage to another Americana legend, former Band drummer Levon Helm.
Manning the boards for The Rose Hotel is Lloyd Maines, the acclaimed producer, pedal steel/steel guitar/dobro player who has worked with everyone from The Dixie Chicks to The Flatlanders.
