Media Review

Karmella's Game have been crafting a very refreshing blend of indie-rock, synth-rock and pop in the burbs of Baltimore since 2002. Katie Ostrosky aka KTO (vocals/keyboards), Mandy Koch (vocals/bass), Joe Ostrosky (vocals/drums) and Aaron Smith (vocals/guitar) make up this high-energy quintet. The comparison I love is that of Debbie Gibson fronting the Rentals. If this comparision makes no sense, let's try this. Think of a great pop band, like the Beach Boys and then add in the flare and punk rock energy of early Weezer. No, Karmella's Game doesn't sound like any of these bands, but maybe this will help give you an idea of what kind of music they create. Anyways, I have been fortunate enough to catch this band's live show over a dozen times. I haven't been disappointed, and I certainly wasn't disappointed with their latest offering "The Art of Distraction."

If you're looking for a record that will keep your ears asking for more, this is it. If you're looking for a record that has beautiful three and four-part harmony vocals, this is it. If you're looking for a band that writes intelligent, clever and catchy indie-rock/synth rock music, Karmella’s Game is your band.

All nine tracks on "The Art of Distraction" are golden. The drums roll in and “Diversions” kicks off. A song about the loss of one’s identity, the floating high-hat and catchy guitar riffs let the listener know this song and the album in its entirety is going to be an urgent affair. “Skip the Funeral” punches in next, the musical journey that is “The Art of Distraction” is just beginning. In this song, KTO sings “Can’t slow down or we will stop completely,” which could be looked at as self-reminder to herself and to the band.

Like any great rock band, Karmella's Game has had to endure their fair share of adversity, from wrecking their van on tour in 2004 to having members quit right before a tour. During the fall of 2005, Karmella's Game faced yet another crisis. Their guitarist quit the band. They went through try-out after try-out looking for the right person. No one seemed to fit, and things were looking grim. Would this be the end of Karmella's Game? Would "Art of Distraction" be Karmella's Game's curtain call? Absolutely not. During the holiday season of 2005, Aaron Smith took a flight from Tuson, Arizona to Baltimore, Maryland to try out for Karmella's Game. He was "hired" almost instantly. My only complaint, I wish Aaron would have been a part of the band to help write and record "The Art of Distraction." He's a very talented guitarist and his vocal pipes aren't too shabby either. Bearing all of these events in mind, I think it's safe to say that Karmella's Game won't be slowing down any time soon.

Moving right along, as “Cyber Space Lip Gloss” crashes through your speakers, your ears should perk up. This is the defining song of this album. Everything you could possibly want in a great indie-rock/synth-pop song is here. Beautiful four-part vocal harmonies, crunchy guitar riffs, dancing bass lines, “terminator” style synth lines and pounding drum beats keep this six-minute epic blazing right up until the vocal outro. By the way, the vocal outro is complete ear bliss.

As a side note, Joe O does an amazing job of playing rhythms that compliment the songs beautifully. A lot of drummers simply play too much, in turn making the song sound much messier than it should. On the “Art of Distraction” the drums keep your head bobbing and hands tapping. Trust me, this is much better than having to scratch your head in confusion because you can’t figure out what the drummer is trying to accomplish by over-playing. Don't get me wrong, there will always be a place for chaotic drumming, just not when you're trying to craft indie-pop gems.

“A Lullaby” slides in next and you might feel as though you’ve been thrown back in time. Imagine yourself attending some crazy 1980s dance party. Now imagine everyone’s doing “the Robot” and having a blast. Karmella’s Game wants you to bust-a-move and “A Lullaby” will get you doing just that. Things slow down for a few minutes after the dance party as KTO assures herself everything is going to be all right with her piano driven, bed-time lullaby, “The Remains.” “Just go to sleep and you will feel better. Just get some rest and you’ll be all right,” KTO sings to herself. Is KTO trying to foreshadow something to the listener? It’s quite possible, for the song that comes next is a face-melter, figuratively speaking (DISCLAIMER: Karmella’s Game and Speedbump Recordings cannot be held responsible if you face does, in fact, melt off while listening to this album.) “Revolution” is the heaviest, most angst-ridden song on this record. The 12/8 time signature adds a little extra muscle and KTO’s commanding vocals rocket this song into a realm that most “tough-guy” bands could only dream of accomplishing. Don’t worry, this song still has its fair share of hooks and harmony for you to sing-a-long. My personal favorite track "Safely Negative," comes next. This is the one track I could see pushing Karmella’s Game to the next level. The song structure is that of a picture-perfect pop song and the hooks are incredible. I just summed up “The Art of Distraction” with that last line, but "Safely Negative" is the song that jumps out as the hit. “One Phone Call” keeps this high-octane album churning. This song has been a crowd-pleaser for as long as I can remember. My best explanation as to why this is such a favorite is because it’s the most anthemic song on the album. The chorus repeats the line “one phone call” and it’s impossible to resist the hooky nature of Joe O’s, Mandy’s and KTO’s voices. You’ll be singing along in no time, maybe even before the end of the first listen. As “One Phone Call” fades out “Symbiosis” cracks in, sounding as if it’s being played on an old-time record player. The album is coming to a close, and Karmella’s Game wants to leave you with a grand impression. The best way for me to describe this song is to compare it to an ending of a movie that knocks the breath out of your lungs. The feelings are hard to pin-point, but they're mixed: nostalgic, numbing, calming and satisfied. This is how “The Art of Distraction” closes, on a cinematic note. It definitely gets a standing ovation and a double curtain-call. Bravo, Karmella’s Game, bravo.

If my review wasn’t clear, this album comes highly recommended and as it stands right now, this album holds a slot in my Top 10 of 2006. Pick up a copy when the “Art of Distraction” comes out (June 2nd, 2006) and make it your summer-time album of the year. You won’t regret it.

reviewed by Robby Lester