Search - Tommy Keene :: Merry-Go-Round Broke Down

Another Perfect Record

Patrick F Clifford | 06/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tommy Keene is back after a few years off with another great record of guitar driven power-pop - same it ever was. Every record he has ever put out is a great place to start for the uninitiated; this one is as good as any. If he'd ever made something that was less than perfect, this would be a return to form, but he's never made a single misstep. On this one he takes his tried and ture formula, turns it up a bit and sticks it out there more than he has ever done. This is probably the most Tommy Keene of his albums and it completely succeeds, just like all of the rest.Like his past few records, he seems to be focusing on the guitar playing as much as the melodies and perfect songwriting. "Begin Where We End" opens up the record with perfect guitar tones, a memorable melody, and right-on playing (dig the ebow, too). "The Man Without a Soul" is reminiscent of the barroom aesthetic that Paul Westerberg used to be about, horns and boogie-woogie piano and all (I didn't take to this one right away - it's somewhat of a departure - but the song itself proves itself admirably). "Hanging over My Head" wouldn't have sounded out of place on "Based on Happy Times" (somebody needs to re-issue that one). "Big Blue Sky" and "Time Will Take You Today" also remind me of that record. "Love Will Stay" adds nice organ to the formula.The most surprising songs are the massive "The Final Hour" and "The World Where I Live." "The Final Hour" is a couple of songs in one; it's a Tommy Keene full-on guitar seminar. Right on. "The World Where I Live" features a Clarence Clemons-esque, ahem, SAX solo. I was genuinely surprised when it kicked in, but it's so perfect and so matched with the song, that it's easily become my favorite cut on the record.The band (as on the last few records) is dead on perfect (Jay Bennett, John Richardson, and Brad Quin)and the production perfect. That Tommy Keene is not better known is a mystery. He's never put out a dud, his guitar playing is perfect, and the songwriting is as tight as ever."The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" is recommended for the those who miss the Gin Blossoms (Jesse Valenzuela is a huge fan, sings on the record, and covers Tommy Keeen songs with the Gas Giants), and those who are looking for cliche-free rock with kick-a$% guitar playing. All of his records are terrific; this one is a great summation of an astounding, albeit virtually ignored, career.I can listen to this one all day and find a different favorite tune with ever listen.Right on. Right on.Like each of his previous records, this one will be the soundtrack of the summer.(P.S. If you pick this one up, check out Adam Schmitt's new one. He plays on and recorded part of "Merry-Go-Round" and puts out great, completely overlooked records himself)."

Beginning Where We Ended

malazar5 | Silver Spring, MD United States | 06/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tommy Keene is one of the most underappreciated songwriters in the underappreciated genre of power pop.I pay attention to music more than words, so I became a Keene fan practically after the first power chord I heard on Isolation Party, his last album. This new album even surpasses that - it has an even brighter feel and is more adventurous. The orchestration is more elaborate than anything he's done before - ethereal keyboard embellishments (courtesy of Jay Bennett - formerly of Wilco) and horn sections (occassionally recalling Psychedelic Furs circa Mirror Moves. There's also a 16-minute epic song that's good all the way through (unheard of for a pop songwriter). Keene is a phenomenal guitar player, extremely rhythmic and angular, though he can be blustery and driving as well, like a Bob Stinson. Chiming arpeggiated chords recall Roger McGuinn in his Byrds heyday, and explosive power chords invoke the spirit of Pete Townshend (before he became a self-parody and continued to sing about wanting to die before growing old).

Solos are brilliant - there's a minimalism involved - he doesn't try to be Eddie Van Halen, instead hitting just the right soaring notes.And as a songwriter, his songs take surprising turns, never remaining too predictable. There's always a cinematic quality to everything he does, a key element of his lyrical imagery.To me, his songs also evoke images of the unlimited possiblilities of youth, blue skies - and he sings them in a simple pop style that focuses on melody. And he's great live - he's touring later this summer and usually hits a lot of cities, so don't miss him!"

Keene jilts the jangle

Tim Weber | Iowa | 06/18/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Tommy Keene's recent albums have displayed an amiable battle between a fuzzed-up, poppy roar and a keen (!)jangle. It was a pretty nice balance, really, on the sensational "Isolation Party" and the pretty strong "Ten Years After." With "The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down" I think we can declare a winner. Fuzz-buzz rock wins. Keene's new one on spinART mostly avoids the strum and jangle in favor of thick power. While this works some of the time, "Merry-Go-Round" is not, in truth, very close to the quality of the last studio effort, "Isolation Party." It's always hard to explain how someone can go from absolute creative peak to average with one album. Oh well, this new one is still pretty good, even with its flaws: Keene's melodies, especially in the first half, are just too similar and the songs blend together; his lyric rhymes are even more obvious than usual; the disc isn't especially well recorded; a little too much buzzy-fuzzy rock. Still, the 16-plus minute "The Final Hour", a rock suite of sorts, is great fun and showcases some fine guitar, and the terrific "Time Will Take You Today," which follows it, is heartening. Pretty good, then, but samey, a bit too overpowering and not a disc I can imagine anyone EVER saying is Keene's best (though some have already hinted at this). I don't think Keene can make a bad record; he hasn't here, but the brilliance of "Isolation Party" may have set the bar too high."