Laugh in the Dark by Tommy Keene catches you by surprise and reminds you of fun as would a county fair stop on your way to a funeral. On “All Gone Away” Keene delves into the brief, transitory nature of our existence and asks “27 minutes left for you, how do you want it to …
Seattle maintains an open marriage with roots music, and has been noted for its dalliances with grunge and hip-hop. However, the Jet City has held pop music — jangle-pop, folky pop, avant-garde pop, power-pop — dear to its heart for quite some time. It’s a reliable mistress. Seatown seemed a fitting stop, then, for eternal …
What is the difference between Tommy Keene and the most famous singing guitar-slingers of the past couple of generations? Tommy Keene has never had a “My Sharona,” or a “Cruel To Be Kind.” Sure, he’s written and recorded so many gems, his guitar cases are lined with semi-precious glitter — but the power-pop singer/songwriter’s storied …
I’ve been listening to Tommy Keene and in particular last year’s “Tommy Keene You Hear Me, Retrospective 1983-2009.” I have always leaned toward [1989 album] “Based on Happy Times” over [1986 album] “Songs From the Film.” The cello (!) riff alone on the title track, as I told said Mr Keene, ought to be sampled …