Karen Poston "Real Bad"

Karen Poston's "Real Bad"

Is Really, Really Good

by Lone Star Mama

Can’t put my finger on it exactly, but something about Karen Poston’s music really agrees with my musical tastes. That’s odd, since, as a general rule, I prefer male singers. Her voice is comforting, makes me want to kick back in my favorite jeans, concert T-shirt, and 15 year old Justin ropers, crack open a cold Lone Star and absorb the music. “Real Bad” is something special.

Karen is best known in our general OKOM circles for writing the song “Lydia”, which Slaid Cleaves recorded on his CD “Broke Down”. It was already a favorite tune of mine, and I wondered if I would even like hearing Karen sing it since I’m so partial to Slaid’s version. I did like it! It has a slightly faster tempo, but with Karen’s voice the hauntingly sad tale loses no meaning. It’s still a very gripping song, and she does it very well. It’s definitely her song.

The opening/title track on the CD “Real Bad” was a great song to kick off the CD. One can immediately tell this gal has spunk in both her lyrics and vocals. It has a sort of Cajun feel to it, and it feels great! She recruited Kelly Willis for a little back up singing on both this song, and "Lydia", and it’s very, very nice.

Karen also recruited friend Slaid Cleaves for back up on “Flowered Dresses”, a song I had heard Karen do LIVE and was anxious to hear on CD. Karen has a knack for painting a clear picture of the characters she sings about. I swear I have seen one of the girls in this one, in fact, I think all of us have.

Described by Karen as a “Southern rock wreck on the highway”, listening to “Black Ice”, I felt like I was sitting in the car with Karen as she sang. I’m not giving all the details of the song away, but had I heard this song before I got the CD, I would have paid my $15 for this one alone. If you’ve “lived through” black ice, you’ll relate. I like it. Simple as that.

“Easy to Stay” rounds out my list of very favorites of the 12 tracks. At the risk of sounding mushy, this pretty little waltz had me thinking of my spouse, and how good it is and how lucky I am to be with the one I love. It doesn’t hurt that there’s no one on this earth I’d rather waltz with either.

There’s not one bad song on this CD; each one is unique in its own right. Listening to it is like a boost of goodness injected into the soul. I didn’t realize how influential music really can be, until the second time I listened to this CD. I had just finished listening to another CD by a struggling OKOM artist, who probably sank his heart, soul, and every last penny into a CD that is one of the worst I’ve ever heard. I put in Karen’s to put some finishing touches on this review, and it was as if I had been given an ice cold Lone Star on a hot summer day! I felt rejuvenated almost immediately!!! Music can change an entire mood in seconds, and Karen’s CD is a real day brightener.

From a sentimental cover, to sad ballad, to rock, cajun, honky-tonkish, waltz, rockabilly, storytelling, emotion sharing, and the list goes on and on, this is one of those CD’s that I play start to finish and enjoy all the way through. It’s a great sampling of Karen’s singing/songwriting talents and of her talented band as well. I’m anxious for that next CD and for that next time to see her LIVE.

Lone Star Mama

Written by Dana Jones, January 2002

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Visit Karen Poston & The Crystal Pistols website where you can order "Real Bad"