Aversion.com
When young artists are emerging, particularly in the singer/songwriter field, itís easy to write off their budding efforts as half-baked claptrap; itís also just as easy for soft-hearted critics to seize upon the scattered kernels of talent that litter an otherwise mediocre set and fill column inches with empty praise. Weighing in on budding singer/songwriters is a tough job: Critics are either heartless, inhuman monsters, or, worse yet, the purveyors of embarrassingly inaccurate chunks of worthless fluff.

Maybe that's one of the reasons itís hard to find reviews of many songwriters' early albums anywhere: Nobody wants to write them. After all, no matter how hot shit Bright Eyes is these days, his first recordings aren't anything worth mentioning, and it took Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba a record to work out the schmaltziest elements of his style. Thatís probably the sort of record cycle that awaits Chris McFarland.

Although As if to Lay to Rest doesn't try for the tortured-poet honesty of Bright Eyes, nor does it aim the subtle infusion of pop like Dashboard Confessional, McFarland tries for a happy medium between the two. There are more frills, and less reliance upon painstakingly written lyrics than pure singer/songwriters, a fact that saves McFarland's songs. While his songs lack the exquisite hooks of more pop acts, thereís enough charm to his acoustic guitar and the lightweight accompanying band that backs him up. Similarly, McFarland didnít just read his diary into the mic' when he recorded this record: Thereís a balanced mix of pop-style flows with honest-to-goodness emotive songwriting.

Synthesis.net
M. Cameron Newell
Anything that's rocking and lets a little twang in without going overboard is okay in my book. On this disc, Mr. McFarland does just that. On the appropriately titled track, "Twang," he sings about pain and sorrow, but also of redemption. Simple acoustic and gritty guitar work tremble under the scratchy been-there voice of this songwriter. This disc is full of feeling and is nothing short of powerful in its vigor and wholesomeness.

Bangsheet.com
Kurt Hernon
Singer/songwriter Chris McFarland takes Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz's raspy growl and carries it with perfection (someone has to) through a set of urgent tunes that haunt, haunt, haunt. McFarland may ease up on he mood a bit here or there ("Twang"), but mostly he¹s on the edge ­ of something ­ and its pretty intense out there.

No Depression (www.musicemissions.com)
This album comes by way of In Music We Trust, which is a small label out of Oregon that has been putting out some pretty decent music lately. Chris McFarland is a Texan that loves the singer songwriter style of music and is into very emotional writing but is able to utilize his gruff voice. The album does possess a rootsy flavor to it but the songs are very well crafted for this type of style. The acoustic guitar takes a forefront position for the most part but Chris also adds quite a bit of other instrumentation. The overtone of As If To Lay To Rest is mostly dark and brooding, sort of like the overcast album cover art, but Chris is able to show the light at the end of the tunnel. McFarland refers to his music as ³angry folk², which is a completely adequate description. He is a welcome addition to the singer/songwriter camp.

Cosmik.com
Shaun Dale
It took a couple spins for me to wrap my head around Chris McFarland's sophomore effort, As If To Lay To Rest. The first time through I took it as a pretty depressing set of songs by a pretty depressed singer/songwriter - kind of an alt.rock version of James McMurtry. Frankly, I don't consider depression one of the most attractive qualities in a human being, and I wasn't sure whether I had anything to say about this one that was worth the effort.

It's kind of the Cosmik Creed, though, to give every album an honest chance, so I punched replay and soon discovered that I was wrong the first time around. It's not depression that drives this material, it's anger, and that's an emotion that's been the source of many a great song. It's the source of some pretty damned good songs right here.

McFarland's particular talent is to access his anger as a means to exorcise his anger, a process that puts the proverbial silver lining into some of the storm clouds of sound he cranks out. Long a solo acoustic act, he still sticks primarily to acoustic guitar, but the sound is beefed up by bass and drums. Bassist Josh Bandy and drummer Adam Hatley's contributions are often better described as rumble than as rhythm, but what they do fits the material McFarland offers them. McFarland's vocals are somewhat idiosyncratic, and sometimes he reaches a little too hard in trying to convey the depths of his angst, but you gotta respect a man willing to publically own his angst, and again, what he's doing is in service to the material. You know how sometimes the only way to process your stuff is to just stand there and scream? Some of this is that kind of music. Done in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons, a scream can make you feel better. Listened to in the right mood, at the right time, with enough attention, this angry album can make you feel better, too.© 2001 - Shaun Dale

NY Rock (www.nyrock.com)
His voice has a metallic twinge to it, a kind of Peter Gabriel/Adam Durvitz nasal whang, and his music is acoustic rock, kind of petulant, forlorn, without sounding like a dirge. More like when you're shit out of luck, and you feel that first glimpse that things are going to get better. Sure, you're still mopey, but the corners of your mouth turn up slightly, and you wink to yourself, yeah, it'll be okay. McFarland hails from Austin, where apparently, bad music never makes itself heard past the town limits. And though the nine tunes here won't have you kicking your heels and smiling like a loon, there's enough integrity to make you sit, listen, and reflect on what you've done in your life so far, where it's going, etc. and that's pretty cool.

Swizzle-stick.com
This is not the album to be listening to if you've had a hard time dealing with the depressing world news of the last week. There's a near unbearable heaviness to the songs found on Chris McFarland's sophomore release that can really wear down the listener. His solemn songwriting seems to carry the weight of the world in its lyrics and that can almost be too much to handle. However, that is not to say that this is a bad CD. Under "normal" circumstances (will there ever be a "normal" again?), this would be a rather compelling listen. It's hard not to be drawn into McFarland's sad and tortured world. By description alone, you could call this "emo-rock" although it's so far removed from any of the artists that I consider being emo -- Sunny Day Real Estate, Promise Ring, Getup Kids, etc. McFarland is more real and certainly not as whiny as the singers of those bands. And the music is centered around an acoustic guitar although it also includes an electric bass and drums. McFarland's vocals remind me a bit of Bill Janovitz, John Carlin, and even a young Tom Waits (before he sounded like he'd been rubbing sandpaper on his vocal chords). Other than being thoroughly depressed every time I listen to this CD, the only real qualm I have is that five of the nine songs clock in at over 5 minutes. With the lack of a real chorus, this can make the song feel as if it's dragging. This is the CD to look for when you're feeling particularly emotional.
Chip Midnight

CD Baby (cdbaby.com)
Reviewer: Joe
"A must have for anyone with ears"
This CD is absolutely timeless. As If To Lay To Rest easily earns a position as the best independant CD of the year and could easily compete with any major label CD. With excellent production and a sound that so effortlessly captures every human emotion imagineable Chris is able to capture the true spirit of the word emo. However dont let labels fool you, as any great CD, As If To Lay To Rest can stand up in any genre of rock, this is the only CD I have ever heard that is truly without boundries. One word, Amazing.

High-bias.com
Austin, Texas-based Chris McFarland is a perfect example of the new wave of singer/songwriters that have risen like phoenixes from the ashes of the alternative rock "revolution." He's absorbed the good points of the trend-overt passion, a sense of anthemic drama, a willingness to spike otherwise pop-friendly melodies with skewed progressions or just plain ol' noise-and ignored the lame ones, like excessive ironic posturing and musical blandness. He never goes for easy histrionics or melodrama when he can stick with the virtues of emotional sincerity and memorable tunes. His aggressive strumming and his rhythm section's insistent thrust serve notice that this is not your father's singer/songwriter, or even your older sister's‹this most definitely falls under the category of rock. "One Good Thing," "Sick" and the exceptionally strong "Twang" (which doesn't) are the kind of songs that stick in the mind at first listen; their luster only grows brighter with each subsequent spin. As If to Lay to Rest isn't perfect, but it's a solid indication that greatness lies right around the corner. Score:[buy it]
Michael Toland

CD Baby (cdbaby.com)
Reviewer: Steve In Boston
"the future"
this is one of the best new artists around. his ability to keep the listeners attention throughout the album is a credit to his songwriting ability. i find myself listening to this cd more and more in the car on road trips because i don't get bored and take it out after three songs.

CD Baby (cdbaby.com)
Reviewer: John Daley
"all around excellent cd"
one of the best cd's ive heard this year. think of early bob mould mixed with buffalo tom. or even a male ani difranco. its has an addictive drive and flows well as an album. his voice is passionate and captivating

CD Baby (cdbaby.com)
Reviewer: Jennifer G
"like it"
a friend of mine had told me about seeing this artist in chicago last year, and how great he was. i was wondering when something was going to surface. this to me is a lot more of a rock album that a "folk" one. very good, awesome lyrics

Delusions of Adequacy (www.adequacy.net)
Jeff
"I suppose that, technically, you would classify Chris McFarland's music as folk, but I've always thought his music was so much more than that. He called his brand of music on his last album, Distance for Departure, angry folk. If that was angry folk, I'd say As if to Lay to Rest is bitter folk. But despite the prominent basis of acoustic guitar and an emphasis on vocals, these songs are too intense, too powerful to just be folk.

Most of the songs on this album do include bass and drums, but the real emphasis is obviously on the powerful brand of acoustic guitar that McFarland plays and his extremely emotional voice. All music is supposed to be emotional, people say, but some songs are just so powerful that the sheer force can spellbind you. That's the power McFarland possesses as he sings about relationships, predominantly.

"You were such a disappointment to me," he sings on the rocking "Drive," a powerful track that incorporates driving acoustic guitar with thick bass and drums. The focus on "One Good Thing" is solely on the guitar and vocals, presenting a more bare and starkly beautiful feel, and McFarland's vocals really shine here as he sings, "if you need a punching bag, I don't think I'll volunteer. Just give me one chance to get us out of here." The nice, light-hearted romp of "Twang" is a pleasant interlude at this point.

The best song here is the outright rocking "Sick," a song that just blows me away every time I hear it. As McFarland sings, "Are you getting sick of me, the way I'm sick of me," you just feel the bitterness and frustration. Very few singers possess the ability to be this powerful and this honest in one song. That's not even to mention the fact that this song really rocks, with driving, intense acoustic guitar and powerful drumming.

"And at Once" takes on a bit more of a folk feel, a bit more quiet and centered around some nice guitar, which is even better on the succeeding "Begin with Measurements." This song is haunting, with stark guitar and McFarland's vocals just soaring, as he sings, "Tonight I give no quarter to the demons inside my head." Finally, the album ends with "The Evils of a Calendar Year," a more somber, desperate feeling song that flows into a more melodic feel that's both moving and atmospheric, quite lovely with a kind of windy background and even some keyboards.

McFarland only pressed 150 copies of As if to Lay to Rest, with a greater pressing to be released later this summer. These 150 copies have silk-screened covers and are numbered, lending an even more precious feel to this album. But I would take McFarland's music any way I could. This album has rarely left my car's CD player, and I quickly came to know these emotional, moving lyrics by heart. Powerful, emotional, bitterly honest songs - you just can't ask for anything more, and you just can't expect it to be played any better. McFarland may be one of the definitive singer/songwriters of our generation. Make sure you know who he is."

__________________

Reviews for Distance for Departure

Delusions of Adequacy
Jeff
"Chris McFarland describes his style of music "angry folk." I like the sound of that, but I don't think this album is really a folk album, and thus you should continue reading this review. Rather than being a folk album, although there is quite a bit of the folk-inspired sound, I'd call McFarland's work that of a singer/song-writer. And by that, I mean it's primarily McFarland's voice and his acoustic guitar (with drums used on two songs and keyboards on one).