Karen & the Sorrows

Praise for Why Do We Want What We Want (2023):

“Heady, dense, macabre in all the best ways….a wonder of mood and observation that is a standout in a terrific year for this type of American Gothic.”—Country Universe, Thirty Best Albums of 2023

“In a voice much like Dolly Parton’s had she never left Little Pigeon River, and with a mournful dobro, Pittelman digs deeper into familiar territory, an ethos of gothic queer country ghost stories.”—Amos Perrine, No Depression, The Best of Everything in 2023

“Karen Pittelman is an essential voice in our moment. She’s an activist, writer, teacher, organizer, and world-builder who (among other things) has helped build the vibrant world of contemporary queer country, creating and expanding spaces for marginalized fans and artists. She’s also a great artist in her own right, whose work with Karen & The Sorrows has earned her comparisons to everyone from Dolly Parton to Tom Petty. I can certainly hear both those artists (and many others) on her new EP, where the acoustic sound emphasizes the richness of tracks like the driving “Emissary.” But, more than that, I hear a singular artist who’s earned those comparisons and forged her own unique identity.”—No Fences Review

Praise for Guaranteed Broken Heart (2019):

“Like Gram Parsons, Pittelman peels away the superficiality that much of country music has embraced and looks deep into its soul, its history, and its stories and makes it all her own….You do not want to miss this album.”—No Depression

“Buoyed by Pittelman’s dramatic, expressive voice, Guaranteed Broken Heart is rich with the textures of classic twang and writing that will resonate with anyone who needs a little glue to put the pieces of their own ticker back together. “—AV Club

“Each year, there’s at least one album that stuns me into silence, then moves me to immediately text everyone I know to tell them about it. Karen Pittelman’s latest release did that for me in October.”—Americana Highways