Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Adam McFarland - Exit

8/29/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Adam McFarland

Exit
self-released; 2014

3.7 out of 5

By Samantha Kanne



Being a California native myself, I feel that I am just naturally drawn to good ol rock n’ roll. I am an electro head through and through but there’s something really nice about listening to some easy bands that make simple music using natural, classic instruments.

Take Adam McFarland for example. Born in San Francisco and raised in southern California growing “up by the beach, surfing and playing my guitar.” Reading McFarland’s biography makes me want to picture a Jason Mraz type with cargo shorts and a straw fedora. And some of the tracks on his first solo album Exit reassure this imagery (listen to “Life is Good” and “Better Than Lies” for examples). But some songs suggest otherwise. McFarland spent time in Costa Rica (“Toy Soldier”) and New York City (“Clown,” “Shameless”) and “used to dangle my feet out of my seventh story window and write songs in my journal in the shadow of the World Trade Center.”

It all sounds very romantic. He traveled the world with his guitar and surfboard in hand and says he met incredible people along the way. McFarland tried to settle down and get a real job and a real wife “but that job and wife have since long gone.” Moving back to Los Angeles, McFarland rediscovered more of his creative side performing in bands and working in studios and even opened his own.

Exit is quite a romantic album too. It’s only fitting that this first solo adventure would reflect his own solo experiences. “All of the songs have some kind of meaning or message and all are based on my experiences over the last 30 years or so,” says McFarland. 

“Tell Me Polite” is an interesting track that tops all of the others for me because of the mixed emotions hidden within the lyrics and the melody. The upbeat nature of the song suggests exactly that: an upbeat feeling. But the lyrics say otherwise. McFarland talks of waiting for someone, sitting until they return because they’re worth it. This seems melancholic, sentimental and beautiful.

McFarland’s songs are like reading his diary with a dabble of NYC gloom and California sunshine. The contrast is nice, like looking at a black and white photograph; feeling the ups and downs of one human being.

“I like music that is personal this way and I try to let my music follow the times but I also try to maintain a sort of timelessness in the lyrics and arrangements.” I think McFarland achieved just that with Exit.
Become A Fan
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact