This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
At first, Farm Fresh Onions sounds like a pretty dumb title for a disc. Especially from a songwriter as gifted as Texas roots troubadour Robert Earl Keen.
The more you ponder it, though — and the more you listen to the dozen cuts on his typically superb 10th album — the more logical that handle seems. After all, the dusty-voiced Keen’s easygoing narratives have their roots in Texas country. They’re decidedly earthy, proudly organic and quite obviously homegrown. They have their own unique flavour — a sharp, tangy sensation that can easily bring a tear to the eye. At other times, however, they can be surprisingly sweet and pleasant. And in the case of this batch — a slightly more upbeat and rocking set than Keen’s last few efforts — they definitely pack a punch. Or to put it another way: It looks like Keen’s brought in a bumper crop this year. Enjoy the harvest.
