Holly McNarland - Stuff

Canadian Holly McNarland is living testimony that good things come in small packages. On Stuff , the diminutive waif sings like a woman three times her size, belting out a brand of full-bodied rock and pop that seems to contain experience well beyond her 23 years. But then that's McNarland's style. Sporting tattoos, facial piercings and coiffed with a short, mottled cap of jet black hair, she might have stepped right out of some goth night spot in downtown Toronto. And, judging by more than a few of her song verses, she might just have gone through the kind of experiences she sings about. But while Stuff often touches on the rougher side of interpersonal, often sexual, relationships, it balances its coarseness with delicacy and maturity. --Nick Heil Amazon.com

" If you cared at all you'd put me down "

Amazing razor sharp lyrics and the perfect songs make this my favorite female rock cd of all time. Absolutely playable from beginning to end without any bullsh*t filler songs to be found.

My favorite tracks are UFO, Porno mouth, Elmo, I won't stay, Numb and Coward (in that order). Mystery song is sexy, something to strip to lol*

I saw Holly at Commodore two years ago and she is every bit as good live. Check her out if you have the chance. I recommend this cd, it's the best.



June 14, 2005

Joey Santiago!!!

i really like the pixies, surfer rosa was amazing and so was come on pilgram and doolittle. and then they broke up Black Francis became Frank Black and Kim Deal played with The Breeders. Well Joey Santiago played with Frank Black a little bit, but he also is the guitarist on this album. playing guitar on Holly McNarland's Stuff.

I enjoy this album Holly is a great signer, lyrics are okay, some of the best pixies inspired canadian pop. also check out Matthew Good Band both are from Vancouver.

I remember "Numb" and "Elmo" and "Coward" being well played singles in Canada at the time of this albums release, pick it up... but don't pay too much i got mine for $3 January 8, 2005

In My CD Player for the First Time

Usually, when I get a CD, I put it in and immediately start pushing the scan button to hear everything. Most often, I end up getting to the last track and removing the CD because nothing grabbed me. But with this disk, I put it in earlier and am on track 7 without scanning. I want to hear every song. It's very nice. She is pleasing to hear and some of the lyrics are already starting to jump out at me, which is refreshing. She has sort of a Cranberries meets Ani Difranco sound, but both of their best qualities, not the stuff that makes me not buy some of their stuff. She does b*tch rock with a vengance and turns around and tells sadness beautifully. I'm impressed. July 28, 2004

Ferocious rock n' roll from a versatile prodigy.

Alanis Morissette may have gotten the attention, but Holly McNarland is the real deal -- angry yet rousing rock with feminist leanings.

On Stuff, her debut, McNarland bursts out firing on all sixes: "Numb"'s kinetic acoustic guitar propels the album into high-energy right out; "Elmo", despite its cutesy title, is a bleeding-throat, guitar-screeching banshee of a rock tune; and "The Box" is probably the catchiest, most rocking tune ever written about a yeast infection. But McNarland is far from a one-trick pony: "Water" is a lovely power ballad mourning the passing of a relationship, and McNarland's crooning vocal on the verses shows her to be much more versatile a singer than Morissette; "Coward" is a subtle and introspective mid-tempo number; "Mystery Song"'s keyboard-laden soundscape almost traipses Single Gun Theory territory, and "U.F.O." finds McNarland visiting a sweet range in her voice that would have fit comfortably on a Letters to Cleo album.

It would take McNarland years to follow this debut, but what a debut it was. Ignore the dumb cover and album title and dig into one of the fiercest and catchiest albums to have come out of Canada in the '90s. February 23, 2003

Holy Holly!

One of the best female rock discs out there! A Canadian artist shadowed by Alanis Morissette. The voice is truthful and haunting. My favourites off this album are I Won't Stay, Numb, Coward, Porno Mouth to name a few. Any fan of women rockers should not be disappointed by this album. August 18, 2002

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