photo courtesy of Trespass Music

Single Review of Karen Morand & the Bosco Boys: “Beautiful Scars”

Intense and powerful; that’s “Beautiful Scars.” The rich, powerful music bed will suggest a much faster pace than you’re actually hearing, as you’ll discover when you take a step back with a more thoughtful ear, maybe not on the first listen. What you’re hearing is power, not speed. And Karen Morand & the Bosco Boys also know how to take a step back by stripping back the instrumentation for emotional effect during bridges, when warranted. Background vocals are added for emphasis.

image courtesy of Trespass Music

Stylistically, it’s probably best categorized as heavy folk-based Americana, but Karen’s voice has rock ‘n roll edges and impact, and the rhythm is intensely country-rock, particularly in the more instrumental-filled portions of the song.

I’d definitely consider this a single with crossover potential, appealing to Americana, country, folk, and rock fans, as well as to those who simply appreciate a well-crafted song. (I often don’t look at the promo material until after I write the first draft of my review, and I notice that it also mentions “soulful roots” as one of several stylistic descriptors; yeah, that’d fit, too.)

“Beautiful Scars”, released as a single in November 2021, appears on Karen Morand & the Bosco Boys’ Ghost Hotel album, which dropped in February 2022.

photo courtesy of Trespass Music

Looking Ahead

Keep an eye on the “Events” tab of Karen Morand’s website for future live dates.