Released two decades into his recording career, What I Really Mean finds Robert Earl Keen as assured, expressive, and nuanced as ever. He continues to prove himself a master of the kind of quirky country/folk story-songs that made him a Texas legend, as demonstrated by the complex, Dylan-esque "Mr. Wolf and Mamabear" and the atmospheric, Mexican-flavored "A Border Tale." It doesn't hurt that he taps into some tender, heartfelt moments as well, as on the romantically longing title track.