COLLEEN MCFARLAND: Beautiful Lie

Colleen McFarland

Beautiful Lie

© 2006 Colleen McFarland (619981193528)

Americana and Alt. Country, Colleen has a voice that will stop you in your tracks. Songs drenched with heartache, yearning, tenderness and loss. Soulful, gritty and sweet

notes

Note: Colleen will be touring Europe this summer in Ireland and Norway, stay tuned for details! For more info, check out Colleen's calender on her website www.colleenmcfarland.com

"As a producer, she has crafted her best record yet..as a songwriter, she sculpts each song with elegance and grace..utterly exquisite album.."
--Michael Tearson, Sing Out!, August, 2006

"A gritty feel and for-the-ages mysticism..her smoky alto drips with inner strength and sensuality..a compelling mix of dreamy imagery and direct emotion.."
--Michael McCall, Nashville Scene, August, 2006

"Colleen McFarland hollows out the hurts of lost love with a gritty realism and encapsulates solid songwriting that is all her own."
- - Joey Hood, American Songwriter, July 2006

Colleen's uniquely sweet, bluesy voice and songs can appear rough around the edges, but also beautiful and haunting, with the kind of mind crafted lyrics that critics and music lovers are fortunate to discover from time to time. While glimpsing into McFarland's journeys of sorrow, deep introspection and determination, fans will translate her songs into their own self discoveries. With the new release of her third CD Beautiful Lie, McFarland exposes her strength as well as her vulnerability. From the gritty, rhythmic pull of "Ten Years" to the sultry "I Don't Wanna Be Good", listeners will be pulled right along beside her on an emotional roller coaster of love, lust and loss. While Beautiful Lie displays a cohesive, well sewn tapestry of sparse, but lush arrangements and rich musical ideas, it also shows that McFarland's influences are diverse.
The youngest of nine children, Colleen grew up in a small, three bedroom, one bathroom house on the outskirts of Jennings, Missouri, singing whatever music her parents, and one brother and seven sisters played on the radio and family turntable. After years of singing in church and school, Colleen became a professional entertainer at the age of fifteen, singing in local bands and orchestras. Discovering folk and soul at an early age, she listened to the songs of Neil Young, James Taylor, and Aretha Franklin, joined by the likes of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Marty Robbins.
Colleen graduated with honors in music performance from the University of Missouri in St. Louis, paying her tuition by moonlighting in the smoky nightclubs of the Midwest. She moved to the Northeast for an extended period of time to write and perform her original music at many venues including the Tin Angel, The Point, The Lansdowne Folk Club, and The Bitter End, while also performing in coffee shops and at festivals, including the Newton Colony/XPN Music & Arts Festival in Collingswood, NJ featuring The Mavericks, and Lucinda Williams.
Colleen recorded and co-produced two independent cds, Speaking In Rhymes, and Three Miles From Odessa which received airplay on many college and independent radio stations, and worked as a voice-over talent and jingle singer, recording commercials and industrial spots for Nike, Fox Television, Polygram Video, and was the featured soprano for Bernard Herrmann's (of Alfred Hitchcock fame) post-mortem Opus 6.
Since moving to Nashville in 2003, Colleen has performed at 3rd & Lindsley, The Bluebird Cafe, Borders Books & Music, The Basement, Douglas Corner, The French Quarter Cafe, and The Family Wash, where she also sits in with the band Soul Food, led by guitarist/pedal steel player Pete Finney from the Dixie Chicks. She has shared the stage with Freedy Johnston, Kim Richey, Jeff Black, Jeffrey Gaines, Lucy Kaplansky, Reeves Gabrels, Frank Black, and Entrain to name a few. Colleen licensed two of her songs to Universal Studios in January of 2006 for the dvd release of the television series Northern Exposure. She also recently performed to a sold out audience at Pub Ampfield in Gjovik, Norway. Her songs can be heard on radio stations across the country including WRLT in Nashville, WXPN in Philadelphia, and as far away as Paris, France, on NSEO “Keep It Country”. Colleen is also currently being featured on "The Miller Tells Her Tale", a popular Americana internet radio podcast from Edinburgh, Scotland, and BBC Radio2 with Bob Harris. Beautiful Lie has received stunning reviews in major songwriter magazines including Maverick Magazine (Oct. '06), Performing Songwriter (Nov. '06), and Sing Out! (Aug. '06) Colleen was also recently featured as the 'Critics Pick' in the Nashville Scene for the August 2006 issue.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Brilliant!!
    author: Ian Prentice

    What a remarkable album. Great voice incredible songs. Leaves you feeling like your in front of a warm fire on a cold night.

  • A voice worth longing for.
    author: Ken Lawrence

    Had sampled the song He rolled his eyes, and thought I had posted a review, but visited CD baby Today, June 16, and find I'm just now getting to it. What can I say, from the opening of 10 years, A thousand miles away, and I don't want to be good, you'll finally find yourself longing for that sweet voice. I don't want to be good doesn't apply, Colleen is very good indeed.

  • Beautifully True
    author: Penguin

    These songs are so honest and heartfelt, that when you hear Colleen's masterful writing, and her tender yet biting vocals, you will think she wrote this for you. You would be correct, and this album is like a good book to curl up with, to remind us of where we've been, or where we are. There is much more to cherish in this passionate work. Besides the pastoral art, design and photography in the package, the musical arrangements are unique and stellar, with many surprises and many turns. I got chills upon my initial listen. I'll tell you my favorite tracks if you tell me yours. Btw, her next release might just rock (or knock) you upside your head. Colleen's talents are galactic, and you best get ready for more (just between u and mee).

  • Sorrowfully beautiful songs by an extraordinary vocal artist
    author: Rob Lincoln

    I was extremly impressed with the production on this CD. When I looked to see who produced it, it was none other than the artist herself, Colleen McFarland. This was quite an accomplishment. She sang, played acoustic guitar and produced this CD in addition to writing all the songs for this generously long CD--16 songs in all! I recommend this CD for anyone wanting to hear beautiful songs with a country flavor that are highly emotional and personal. I also recommend everyone who appreciates a great vocalist to catch this performer live, you will not be disappointed. (to read the rest of this review, go to cdreviewsonline.com)

  • EXCELLENT ALBUM, EXCELLENT SERVICE FROM CD BABY
    author: KEVIN SWEETING

    WONDERFUL VOICE AND GREAT SONGS, THE LYRICS ARE WONDEFUL AND ENGAGING. LOVERS OF QUALITY WILL NEED THIS ALBUM.

  • author: gordon erskine

    I heard 2 tracks on the Bob Harris radio show. Usually when you buy a CD mostly unheard you may only like 4 or 5 tracks. I have now downloaded all 16 tracks to my MP3. That speaks for itself

  • A real treasure of a CD. 16 A sides, what a singer.
    author: Peter Squire

    I heard Beautiful Lie on the Bob Harris country show and was blown away by Colleen McFarland's voice. I bought the CD expecting to have heard the best song. I was wrong, it's the first time I have a CD full of best songs.

  • author: Stephen Taylor

    Heard a track on Bob Harris -- can't remember which one now -- and ordered the album immediately. It is brilliant! One or two tracks might have been omitted, but it fully merits five stars for a string of outstanding ones. Early highlights for me: One Last Time and Sordid Affair. When is she touring the UK?!

  • Not Disappointing a Very Good Listen GIVE IT A TRY
    author: John from East Kilbride

    Heard One song on the Radio and imediately needed to add to my collection. A Good coolection of songs from a Very Good Artist. A Worthwhile Album . KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK :-)

  • Excellent album!!!
    author: Derek Koh

    Overall I would say this album fits in between Americana and Country Folk. As a comparison Colleen sounds like a younger version of Emmylou Harris on some tracks and some early Maria McKee stuff. Love the track Rain" which could easily be a big hit. I first heard her on Bob Harris Country and am glad I bought this CD. Also the first time I have used this website and 5/5 for delivery and service.

  • A wonderful album - heard a track on BBC2 Bob Harris - a great talent
    author: anthony ryan

    An excellent album, from a wonderful singer songwriter. Obviously influenced by EmmyLou, but Colleen is a better writer. Rain is a powerful, emotional track - the highlight of the album. Even though this is a long song, I think the album would have benefitted through better editing. Sometimes less is more. Regardless, this Colleen makes your eyes shine.

  • Beautiful Lie is a superb CD - Buy it.
    author: Tony Whitmore U.K.

    Only found out about Colleen McFarland by chance before buying this CD. It is superb in all respects.

  • Beautiful Lie is simply a Beautiful Album
    author: David Jay - UK

    Beautiful Lie is quite simply a Beautiful Album ... and that's No Lie

  • Powerful Moving Soulful Country Experience
    author: Bruce MacFarlane

    The Best is Yet To Come shows off Colleens great vocals! Fantastic amazing bluesy guitars fill between the moving lyrics. I don't want to be good is an incredible love song. If you want a moving experience, just buy the album. Its my favorite, and I have hundreds of cds now by last count.

  • Amazing, wonderfull, no words can describe the feeling for this beautiful lie
    author: Pieter from Holland

    As i played the disc the first time, i was completely flabbergasted. Such a feeling, such great songs, such a lovely voice. This record is awesome. I really did not know Colleen, but i will check everywhere to see if there are more records are available. If this is her debut, it is marvellous.All major recordcompany's should get in line, in order to get her on board. Just listen and you will fall for it. Best record of 2006 for sure.

  • A wise and wonderful record
    author: Richard Wolff

    I have been listening to Beautiful Lie on a daily basis since I got it from CD Baby. I am still trying to find the words to describe what I feel about it. The length is daunting, but the way the level of quality of songs is sustained all the way through is nothing short of miraculous. The mainly melancholy melodies brought forth by the sparsest of musical accompaniment are wonderful. Songs about love and loss, but not being the loser, but becoming stronger through experience, empowered. You have seen it all before and know the score. Time is too short to stay with someone whose behavior you recognize all too well. The start is a return to the world after ten years on the mountain. Coming down to tell what you have learned. If the best is yet to come, I am looking forward to hearing what more Colleen McFarland has to say.

  • Intensely personal
    author: Marcia Jacobson

    Colleen has created an intensely personal cd here with great sadness and hope at the same time. She's a first rate songwriter with a beautiful voice and expression. The accompanying musicians and harmonies are wonderful. I especially love the song Rain and can't stop singing Ten Years. Love all of it!

  • Amazing vocals - Reflective and Beautiful
    author: Eric Sierka

    This is definitely Colleen's most reflective record to date. The vocals ooze emotion and the level of finesse displayed in her performances is just plain amazing. This record is very mellow beginning to end. As a result, Colleen takes you to a certain place and keeps you there long enough to really becoming absorbed in its reflective atmosphere. Don't be looking for rockers, big pop choruses or hooks, or even a broad range of styles, tempos and moods. Instead, take time out to be submersed in Beautiful Lie, its worth the visit and a great place to be.

  • Amazing vocals - Reflective and Beautiful
    author: Eric Sierka

    This is definitely Colleen's most reflective record to date. The vocals ooze emotion and the level of finesse displayed in her performances is just plain amazing. This record is very mellow beginning to end. As a result, Colleen takes you to a certain place and keeps you there long enough to really becoming absorbed in its reflective atmosphere. Don't be looking for rockers, big pop choruses or hooks, or even a broad range of styles, tempos and moods. Instead, take time out to be submersed in Beautiful Lie, its worth the visit and a great place to be.

email

Please log in to email this artist.