Our Original Music, CDs, MP3s...Free To Listen

I don't know why I've never done this before. Probably because I hate "plugging" myself. But you will see that the following is completely free, I have no Adsense, etc. to profit from...just sharing a bit of "Jim and Robin's world" with my pals.

Jim and I met in 1997 through music. Yes, yours truly (Robin)...you know, the SHY one, was out for the evening and saw a cover band performing my favorite, classic hits from the 70s and 80s. Robin, unable to resist, asked during break if she could harmonize on a song. Ironically (oh thank you, Fortuna), it was one that JIM was singing lead on! Our voices harmonized together as if we'd been playing together for years, which drew us together...surprised ourselves how we fit like a glove.

With both of us loving to sing and songwrite, plus I played 12 string guitar and Jim played 6 string, that same year we created the duo "One Less Karen." It was just the two of us at the start, but before moving to Montana in 2001, we turned ourselves into a 4 piece band for a brief time...but once we moved to the rural mountainous countryside, we went back to being just the two of us.

We played a lot back in the day, many gigs, etc....and wonderful fans. But we are slowing down - especially since we have been away from home since my mom passed away (we played summer festivals in Montana). We are hoping to pick back up a bit when we get home in May....plus envision volunteering at rv parks and playing around a campfire in the future, but we write mainly for us so if only we enjoy it in the future, that is ok.

Anyway, we do have a site at onelesskaren.com. However, this link takes you to our 3 full length CDs/MP3 samples...yes, free. No sales pitch here...honest, it took THIS LONG just to put this link in here! I'm the girl who never links to her own stuff in forums...not sure why! I would suck as a salesperson.

The "free" listens, compliments of bandcamp, do not sound like high quality on purpose (their call, not mine), but the true CDs do when in hand. Guess bandcamp (who hosts our music) gives samples but not the full deal...so it sounds tinny, but it is supposed to, I'm guessing.

Hope you enjoy! My favorite CD is "Songs Of Love And Dysfunction." In case you are interested. We have many more songs we've written and performed these past 16 years, just never got around to recording them...ah well, such is life!

I am very impressed!  You guys are great!  I will say that folk type music is not usually my thing BUT I absolutely LOVE John Prine.  I think he is considered some type of folk artist isn't he?  My most favorite band of all time Kiss with others like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Tesla.  Lynch Mob, Neil Young, Sound Garden, and even some Pop and Hip Hop music will make me get that tingly toe tapping and butt slapping feeling.   So I try to not limit myself to one type of music and listen to all kinds to see if I like it.  I think it really depends on how it makes me feel when I hear it.  I appreciate music in general and am always willing to listen to something or someone new.  I am so glad I clicked on your link and did that with your music.  It actually made me feel very similar to what I feel when I listen to the likes of John Prine.  Very calm, down to earth, relaxing feeling.  The type of music that you also don't mind so much that your children listen to with you.  They love John Prine too by the way...  they are so funny singing his songs.  

I will be ordering some of your music for sure.  Will have to wait until my old man gets paid in a week but you have an order from me when he does!  Also, do you mind if I place a link to your music on my Facebook page and Share it among my friends and family?

See what sharing can do for you!?  I do know what you mean though about plugging yourself.  I get nervous about how and when to do that and is it appropriate etc.  

Thanks again for sharing and the best of luck to you and Jim with your music!

Angel

Robin, this is great! Thanks so much for sharing it! I really like your style. I'm dancing around the living room right now.

Oh how nice!  You have a lovely voice Robin.  I also like all kinds of music, except country twang... I agree with Angel - your music is very calming and relaxing.

I am very glad you finally shared it with us - and I'm wondering how you got the name for your group?

WOW!  Thanks so much for sharing.  My whole body is going to your music. I love this kind of music. You are great!

Angel

Jim and I had a big toothy grin reading your post this morning. What compliments! So appreciated, Angel. It is funny you mention Neil Young because some gigs we've taken on we perform for 4 hours and sometimes people want to hear some covers. Jim sounds just like Neil when he wants to! You can do whatever you'd like with our music, put it anywhere/play it anywhere – we consider it the ultimate compliment! Thanks so much!

Sheilamarie

We are absolutely loving the imagery of you dancing to One Less Karen music! Thanks for sharing the visual with us. Kids always loved dancing to our stuff at outdoor festivals...we even joked that dogs would start chasing their tails!

Ryank

Thanks for the compliment! Before we left Montana, we performed quite frequently and even put on a free evening concert (bonfire and all) at the mountain rv park we were staying at. But we've been pretty stuck in Illinois, and though we played a few coffee shop gigs, we haven't marketed ourselves here. We've been pretty needed and yanked on by family, so aren't in one place very long. We hope that will change when the rv gets home to Glacier this May. Again, thanks for such sweet words.

Dustytoes

Thank you for your kindness, as always! We aren't fans of country either, but love every other type of music. We are always asked where the name came from, so I'll share it here. Back in 97, we needed a name for our duo, but wanted something catchy vs just our names. Between the two of us, we knew a dozen Karens and always confused who we were talking about (including ex motherinlaw, babysitters, friends...it was ridiculous). One night we went out to a club to hear music and one of our Karens joined us and told us she was moving away to California. I think it was me who said “that's one less Karen to worry about.” We ended up writing a song called “One Less Karen” about some of them, and we just chose it as our name. It was great advertising, because everyone always remembered the name!

Wrapitup4me

I wanted to reply to you on the forum post I did about my mom passing away. What a sweet, kind influence you bring to the forums. I am looking forward to getting to know you better. Your kind words on that thread, as well as this one, make us smile 100%. Thanks so much for your compliments!

Wow!  You have a gorgeous voice, as does Jim.

I'm having a boogie in my seat to Blueberry Pie.

Better than there being a boogie ON your seat! hahaha

Thanks, Jo...

I have to add something I didn't before,

Our "Chicken Poker Keno Gas" CD has a song called "The Plan" that I wrote in one evening when my daughter was little. It's song #9.

BUT, when my daughter was little and we were recording this album, we let her have her "own" version of The Plan. Can't believe how young she sounds! Chey's Plan is song #14 (same song, but squeaky voice)

Good for a smile (but I'm biased)