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The Stranger - October 24, 2004
Jennifer Maerz

I'm a little apprehensive when the music venue I walk into sells incense, candles, and other kinds of urban hippie paraphernalia.

Mr. Spot's Chai House gave me flashbacks of going to school in the hacky-sack capital of the West Coast, Santa Cruz. From the yellow walls to the dizzying disco ball, the place screamed Guatemalan pants and bong hits. So I guess it was only fitting that San Francisco-based Karney--a folk-rock singer/ songwriter--had decorated the tables with a big green postcard of The Weed while plugging her single "My Little Bush."

The green bud worked its way into a couple songs, from the aforementioned track--with such sing-along lines as "Weed, weed, it's what I need"--to critiques of the drug war. Karney and her backup singer--Stand Out Selector, aka Steffan Franz--kept what they called a "conscious vibe" going, with Franz doing occasional dancehall raps behind Karney's running commentaries about the Columbine shootings or watching her lover during sex, and one song that included the line, "Prophecy, harmony, education will set you free." Franz looked like a Latino John Lovitz and sounded like a Rastafarian with a cold, and he was having fun, at one point yelling out, "The vibe in the Chai House is hot!"--said vibe probably coming from the dude in the back who yelled, "Nice!" to lines like "Free up a little weed."

Karney is a charismatic singer with a wide vocal range, a powerful delivery, and a skill for writing dark melodies fitting for the heavier subjects she was tackling. Listening to her sing made me think a woman this confident was born to perform with a full band (which I later found out she already has, but left behind on this Seattle trip "due to expenses"). Her style reminded me of a wide range of singers who I honestly have to say I only hear at my parents' house--female artists like the Indigo Girls and Edie Brickell. But if you're into the weed-smoking, liberal consciousness, urban hippie folk-rock kind of thing, Karney plans on heading back up to the Northwest some time soon.

-- The Stranger Seattle, WA USA

Weed World

Indie rocker Karney has teamed up with PSM recordings to produce this single 'My Little Bush' which is a light hearted look at a very sobering topic. On this track she's teamed up with reggae artist Standout Selector and has used the engineering talents of reggae veteran Dennis Bovell. The track is very catchy and the lyrics pull you in and make you listen unlike other popular music where the words just seems to wash over you in the background. A good track that will definitely get your foot a tappin' to a cool reggae beat - check it out.

-- Weed World, Coventry, UK

Collected Sounds - November 22, 2003
Amy - Producer

Wow, this CD hits you right out of the gate. The opening track has gutsy powerful vocals and a cool dissonance that makes you ready to rock.

I've reviewed Karney's work before and liked her other CD, "Karney" but this one is even better.

She has a great soulful voice and the music is unique and interesting. Not your average pop junk. It "goes places" you don't expect which I find very refreshing. They make good use of the minor chord. The songs range from hard rock to ballads and they're all done very well.

"Out of Body" is probably my favorite, but also very good are, "Going" which has a bit of a retro feel to it and "Drug War" with its reggae rhythm. "My Little Bush" is a clever (also reggae) tune not about what you think (ok, maybe it is). The rest of the songs keep up with the great first track and make for a great good rock album.

-- Collected Sounds - A Guide to Women in Music

Collected Sounds - March 08, 2003
Amy - Producer

San Francisco's Karney knows how to rock. This CD is filled with solid, well-written and fun rock songs. She is a multitalented musician and plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard but also has a great band backing her up. Her songwriting is skillful and interesting. Her voice perfectly suited for her style of music.

"Slap" is almost punk-ish with its dissonant chord progression and her voice is a strong scream. She gets some vocal help from Steffen Franz on "Shellshock Girl" (as well as two other songs here) in which he adds some rap that sounds fantastic with the music and adds a little reggae feel. "Speed of a Bullet" grabs the listener from the beginning and rocks hard.

All in all this is a good solid rock (on the harder edge) record

-- Collected Sounds - A Guide to Women in Music

CMJ New Music Report - Issue 755 - Mar 25, 2002
by Kristy Martin

San Francisco native Karney channels the spirits of female singer/songwriters past and present on her self-titled debut, including Aimee Mann, Edie Brickell, Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano and Pat Benatar. Dark, airy vocals and oozing horn arrangements pepper the singer's funky style; "Pretty Boy" is acoustic yet soulful, with a tinge of sarcasm, while the single "Shell-Shock Girl" - which has since been remixed for radio - is a plea for world peace (hence the title) highlighted by emotive vocalizing, a bit of friendly singalong that works as a call to arms, all backed by a dancehall interlude courtesy of rapper/producer Stand Out Selector and spunky, boozy guitar riffs. Sax 'n' roll flavors "Slap" and "Skippin' Class," a cooing anthem about a homeless bohemian woman who takes Ecstasy and goes barefoot. But Karney takes time for life in the slow lane, too: "Mercy" is a slow, loopy ballad a la Edie Brickell's "What I Am." Those ladies about to rock, Karney salutes you.

-- CMJ NEW MUSIC REPORT - The CMJ Network

Zero Magazine - July/August 2001
Remy Armstrong


This CD displays the songwriting skills of local singer/songwriter Karney and her diverse musical styles, which she molds into each of her songs. The CD starts off with "Pretty Boy" which is more of an acoustic rock song along the lines of Sheryl Crow.The song shows the power of the singer/songwriter's smooth, yet powerful voice. Karney's music doesn't stagnate. The second song, "Shell Shock Girl," is more of a ragamuffin jam with guest vocals by Steffen Franz, while on the third track, Karney hits us with "Slap," a powerful song about domestic violence."Not the third time, not the second time, but the first time is the last time," Karney sings while the horn arrangement takes on a life of their own-great song.

This album was recorded in Oakland at Shark Bite Studios by Mark Keaton. The drums sound great and everything is mixed perfectly right in the pocket. Karney's self-tilted disc has three key elements making it a great record: first and foremost, Karney has well-written songs, an awesome band backing her up, and top-quality recording, making this a great record by yet another talented local musician.

Urban Rag - September 2001
by Erwin A. Karl

Although I've been spinning discs and giving my opinion for a few moons now, I must defer to the judgment of funk high priest George Clinton who asked the hyperbolic rhetorical question of Karney, "How'd a white girl get so funky?" A first rate singer songwriter who has always supported herself through commercial and creative music gigs (no day jobs!!?!), Karney shows a knack for masterful vocals and instrumental themes, and as writer and producer, blends up musical styles and guest artists like a good DJ - Jamaican dub style vocals, bassoon, and brass instruments plied in the dizzying style of Mojack.

Will catch the ear of indie rock as well as singer songwriter fanciers, with substantial guitar riffs, catchy hooks, and narrative-oriented lyrics.

-- Urban Rag Fanzine

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