Gringo Honeymoon

1	Think It over One Time 3:50
2	Tom Ames' Prayer 3:23
3	Gringo Honeymoon 5:19
4	The Raven and the Coyote 5:12
5	Lonely Feelin' 8:30
6	Merry Christmas from the Family 4:45
7	Barbeque 4:41
8	Lynnville Train 5:03
9	I'm Comin' Home 3:47
10	Dreadful Selfish Crime 7:34

Barnes & Noble

Gringo Honeymoon brings Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen's distinctly American musical vision into perfect focus. It's a vision powered by a strong, clear voice; acoustic music that leans toward the more traditional side of country; and a remarkable songwriter's ability to tap into the unexpected and create vividly detailed characters. The title track will have you gliding across the Rio Grande, tracing the escapades of a newlywed couple. "Merry Christmas from the Family" is a seasonal anthem that is an ode to the dysfunctional, while the broken love saga of "Lynville Train" paints a vivid picture of heartbreak and closure. Gringo Honeymoon rates as required listening for fans of the Americana/no depression/alternative country movement. Rob Bleetstein

All Music Guide

Framed by smooth production and tasteful instrumentation, Robert Earl Keen, Jr. hands over ten more tunes on this 1994 release. Gringo Honeymoon is more lively and immediately likeable than previous efforts and is comprised of all Keen originals, save Steve Earle's "Tom Ames' Prayer." Keen transports the listener to Texas with his stories and the overall tone of the record. But it's not big-hair Dallas that calls, it are the back roads and small towns that form the landscape. From the toe-tapping shuffle of "Think It Over One Time" to the sweeping grandeur of "Lonely Feeling" to the eye-winking swing of "Barbeque," Keen paints the scenes one by one. With the sly humor of "Merry Christmas From the Family," he sketches, in great detail, a dysfunctional family that many may recognize. (Not unsurprisingly, Jill Sobule covered this spirited number for a holiday sampler disc.) Gillian Welch adds her lovely voice to "Lynnville Train" and "The Raven and the Coyote." Both are tales of aching hearts that do well with her gentle harmonies. Overall, Gringo Honeymoon is pretty closely in step with Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith. If you like either of them, give this one a try. Kelly McCartney