The Rose Hotel, Robert Earl Kean's first studio album in four years is 15th release for the fabled Texas singer-songwriter, who has amassed a devoted following via tuneful andrelatable country music storytelling. Ubiquitous steel guitarist/producer Lloyd Maines, who played on and produced Keen's 1996 live album No. 2 Live Dinner and is father of Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines1996 Maines, produced The Rose Hotel. The Rose Hotel features 11 songs, including covers of fellow Texan legend Townes Van Zandt's "Flying Shoes" and Greg Brown's "Laughing River" (the latter a duet with Brown). "Wireless In Heaven" and "10,000 Chinese Walk Into A Bar" (featuring vocals by Billy Bob Thornton).