Press
From Dane Crampton
For my review this week, I took a listen to the newly released, long awaited (at least in this community) new album from Las Vegas's own Joseph Karsner. Having yet to see this guy play a live show, I still call myself a fan in most respects. But, it's hard to keep interest in an artist when they never grace the stage.
I should mention that this album is not yet released to others. He's graciously sent me a pre-copy of the songs that will be released digitally in a few weeks. That's right, digitally. Joseph will not be selling his new album in stores, and while many big name artists are doing this, it's rather odd to see a indie artist do so. How he intends to get this album art could in fact be a powerful insight in to the way indie artists who aren't on labels will be releasing their music online in the coming months and year.
The album, named "Tiptoeing Through A Great Sea" does a great job of rising and falling through dynamics and subject matter. Though there's little vocal content, I think this is a plus for Karsner; his voice is not his strong suit and the instrumentation he's employed throughout this album has really improved from his last release ("Detox"). Listeners will love the clarinet solos and thick basslines - a match you'd never expect.
Joseph Karsner's third album will be available starting July 18th.
From Allison Kane:
I wasn’t sure of what I was hearing when I popped in my copy of Joseph Karsner’s Detox. I won’t lie to say that my first instinct was raised eyebrows in disbelief, though once I got through the radio static that kicks off “Green Dress”, I was sucked in to the euphoric bliss that followed.
Karsner found a way to incorporate what I consider to be the “crappy Yamaha” keyboard instruments in to a beautifully composed and programmed set of songs. Though he chose a fuzzy, distorted, and more classical approach to alternative rock in “Green Dress”, he shows that even a high school tuba player can maneuver through clarinet, cello and flute to produce a sensitive and charming instrumental feat in “Goldenrod”.
Though I am a big fan of vocal music, Joseph Karsner’s keen ear for melody shines; the instrumentation is never flat or lacking rhythm. With his short but sweet vocal appearance on “Green Dress”, I must say my only major criticism is that us listeners were deprived of more. An interesting yet eclectic record that leaves me wondering what he’ll do next. B
From Ray Harlow
A friend of a friend enlightened me to the work of Joseph Karsner a few years ago, and after hearing a couple of his songs I turned my head, thinking it was a little bit pretensious for my taste.
About a week ago, the same friend shoved his new record, freshly burned, in my face and told me to try it again.
Karsner’s new release, the Halfway Scarce, seems more inviting from the first line of the first song: “I told you I wouldn’t come home/back home and a hypocrite life makes me”. Written about his struggles with money and having to leave his apartment far away to live with his parents (as many of us do, unfortunately), Karsner seems to have come down to earth with the rest of us. Life sucks. Money sucks.
I found the programmed drums to be lacking the quality they could, especially on “Stand Closer to the Edge of the Mountain”, and Karsner’s lack of experience with percussion was blatently obvious when compared to drummer Jack McCardell’s guest appearance on “Vast Space is Blinding”. I realize what I’m saying is exactly the charm of Karsner’s music; he doesn’t try to be amazing, but instead asks we feel the imperfections of human life and emotion. In doing that, he succeeds.