The distinct writing, singing and playing styles of Karla Schickelefirst appeared in the trio Beekeeper, where Karla played alongside herbrother, Matt. The next step was in Ida where she joined the group,already in progress, and rounded the group out quite nicely with alower voice and a pianists touch. Finally, with the project known as K,Karla is in complete control and the results are breathtaking. "NewProblems" collects 12 tracks totalling just over 30 minutes, includingmost of the songs from the first CD-R that was being sold at lastyear's K concerts (the remaining one appeared on the split EP with Low)as well as a demo version of the now classic Ida tune "Poor Dumb Bird".Karla's a multi-skilled performer/player, with her fingers pluckingguitar and bass strings, tinkling the ivories and even wrapped aroundan oboe for the song "Figther Dove." On the disc, Karla is joined bysome of her closest friends including Tara Jane O'Neil of Retsin, Rodanand solo fame, Cynthia Nelson of Ruby Falls and Retsin, Michael fromIda and Ida Pearle, who's violin playing has graced Low, Ida, MagneticFields, Retsin, Naysayer and many others albums. Rose Thompson joinsKarla on the vocals for a couple tracks, and if you've seen the K showin the past few months, you'll know Rose is another top-notchmulti-instrumentalist, a force to reckon with and possibly the nextperson to surface from the scene with her own material. The songs rangefrom the gracefully subtle, melodic, minimal instrumentation of "Got aFeelin'" (a Mamas and Papas cover) and the album's openers, "*"/"NotHere", to the jam-rockin "Knoxville" (which sounds like it had to befaded, else it'd go on forever), the four-track charm of the "Poor DumBird" demo and "Telegram" to the bang-up production jobs on theinfectiously catchy "Reminder" and "Regular Girl" tunes. I wish theyhadn't faded so many songs out however, as I love to hear songs truly'end' without being cut short. Fans of any of the aforementioned bandsshould already have this, and if they don't they're truly missing anessential piece of the picture. Karla Schickele is truly one of myfavorite contemporary rock/pop writers.
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