"For three decades this DC-area native turned L.A. stalwart has been producing power-pop that's eluded the mainstream. A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? It's hard to explain considering the obvious allure of his catchy songwriting, his sweet, unforced southern vocals, and the general attractive shimmering that comes from his backing band of the moment. His 2009 effort In the Late Bright stays comfortably within Keene's circle of competence, recorded in his home studio with R. Walt Vincent. Keene turns up the amps with a nod towards the Rolling Stones for the punky swagger of ""Goodbye Jane."" He wanders through jangly melancholy fields for ""Save This Harmony,"" and he never runs short of songs that sound like they've been part of his catalog (""A Secret Life of Stories,"" ""Tomorrow's Gone Tonight,"" ""Realize Your Mind"") since the days when he first announced himself with ""Places That Are Gone,"" ""Run Now"" and ""Back Again (Try)."" "