Model Turned Singer Turned Songwriter Named Karen

Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks (free download) (buy)

There's some hubris around Karen Elson; it's probably a good thing if you don't know her story because it will be easier to avoid pre-judging her music. English-born Elson sounds surprisingly like an American-folk singer, stylistically most easily compared to the outspoken Neko Case. The slide guitar and folk arrangements of her LP confirm this (stream it after the jump). There is a more relevant comparison though...

Sorry Mrs. Elson, you're no Joanna Newsom. The former models would make an all-star cover for indie magazines everywhere, but in this catfight the one with the hooks is also the one with the looks.

Karen Elson


Joanna Newsom



Buy The Ghost Who Walks here.