Keene Brothers
Blues and Boogie Shoes
2006, The Fading Captain Series
Ask me for my favorite of the three albums that Robert Pollard released on the same day in May of 2006 and my answer will vary depending on that day’s pollen count and how I feel about my gut microbiome.
Each record is a different camera angle, a different lighting scheme, a different movie from a different section of the video store (we still had some of those in 2006).
Turn to Red is my favorite when I feel light and, at age 48, like I have many decades ahead of me. It’s weathered music that rocks with defiance.
All That is Holy appeals to my introverted side. All that I want to do anymore is sit and think. And when I sit and think, I end up thinking about God and death and eternity and the ancient world and all things unfathomable.
Blues and Boogie Shoes sounds best to me when I feel every hour and minute of my age and I’m happy to just still be here right now. Tomorrow, who knows? Might get hit by a truck.
The Keene Brothers are seasoned. There are decades behind these sounds. There are major label promises that didn’t work out, great albums that never got their due, and a lot of living behind these sounds. There’s a lot of beauty just for the art behind these sounds. You can hear that.
Tommy Keene and Robert Pollard sound good together. They’re two melodic giants, about the same age (Pollard is eight months older) and at this point doomed to be mavericks.
Continue reading “Robert Pollard-Mania! #107: BLUES AND BOOGIE SHOES”