Karenodie is musical mayhem for the listener

Karenodie is sassy and clever and always in a creatively musical sort of way.

The album begins with “Terra Incognita.” an immediately funky tune with heavy reggae elements, such as wah-wah guitars, bouncing rhythm and droning ska bass line. It almost reminds me of Yoko Ono’s “Season of Glass,” though her vocals are in pitch and tune in a very powerful presentation of imagery and sound. Karenodie sings: “The stars won’t guide me. Will pain or pleasure find me? No harbor here to hide me. A mysterious man … beside me.”

Karenodie could totally be commissioned to write and perform a song for a James Bond film. In “The Wind Through Kansas,” I can just see the dancing naked female silhouettes as the music plays and Karenodie sings. Check out these lyrics: “He tried real hard to do the house and yard thing, three months went by. The wonderlust began, I could see plans in those stormy eyes.”

“Juke Box Baby” is like something out of a bad night at the karaoke sushi bar while hung over from too much sake. Honestly, I’m getting real tired of hearing the blues.

The music end of “The Bitch Machine” has a real David Bowie quality to it with a driving beat and nonsensical, yet sensational, lyrics. It’s a tune that just moves along at full throttle. She sings: “A fair prince, but fair play’s not your creed. I’m a little princess who’s gonna be queen. Juggle your words, jester carefully. ‘Cause my tongue can get as sharp as a guillotine.”

Check out a sample and order a copy of Karenodie’s musical mayhem by visiting her website at www.karenodie.com.

Josh Cole is a local musician and CD connoisseur. For a possible review of a new release, e-mail Cole at lettersfromthevoid@yahoo.com or at Myspace.com/familiarwalls.