BARBARA MCDONALD: Madmen & Lovers

Barbara McDonald

Madmen & Lovers

© 1999 White Eagle Records (634479603327)

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Singer/songwriter with passionate vocals and rich lyrics, often compared to Annie Lennox and Joni Mitchell, combines pop and acoustic rock with a dash of soul, a pinch of jazz and a hint of retro flavor.

tracks

1 Angels In The Distance
2 Electronic Karma
3 Pieces Of You
4 So Many
5 Reach Out
6 Black Heart
7 Knight of Dreams
8 New Love, Old Souls
9 I Never Lived This Day Before
10 Trainsong
11 Heartstrings
12 Lay Me Down
13 When We Touch
14 Happily Ever After
15 Madmen & Lovers Overture
16 Madmen & Lovers

notes

This debut album by Barbara McDonald attracted a lot of media attention with airplay on both sides of the Atlantic, due in no small part to her warm, powerful, yet tender and sensuous voice.

"Electronic Karma" was pick of the day for International Women's Day on WXPN (Philadelphia, PA) the originators of "World Cafe," while "I Never Lived This Day Before" has attracted BBC airplay in the UK, placed in the Billboard Songwriting Contest, and held it's place among the top 40 on the MP3.com's SOUL charts for many months.

Tom Lounges, editor of Midwest Beat Magazine, has described "Madmen & Lovers" as "interesting, relaxing but never a 'snoozer'" and has said, "if this CD were vinyl I would have worn it out by now!"

Co-written by McDonald and her British songwriting partner, John Perkins (who writes under the pen-name of Macdona), this album is unique in its varied sound and style, emphasizing melody and lyrics from a fluent songwriting team.

Since the release of this album, they have recorded with Andrew Gold and numerous other musicians along the way in producing two albums that will be released here in the coming months.

They also have a song on the soundtrack of a movie called 'Portraits Of Sari' directed by up and coming director Dan Magro. The song 64 Crayons is already a hit on the AAA charts at Soundclick.com

Watch this space!

reviews

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  • author: jean

    Here's a sparkling, huge and truly great record with songs that will creep into your very soul - i also think that she might be the greatest singer-songwriter in the "country-rock/adult alternative" genre since Linda Ronstadt and a few others. Definitely recommended!

  • author: Dave Robbins

    A music fan from Philadelphia, PA , This is "must have" album!!! An elite vanguard of female singer/songwriters have dominated the few adult/alternative airways left unsuccumbed to top 40 playlist domination. Recently Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos and Paula Cole have been joined by Natalie Merchant, Jonatha Brook and Beth Orton. Now a new name, Barbara McDonald is set to join their ranks. Her debut album "Madmen & Lovers" firmly lays down the challenge to her predecessors. Not for Barbara, are the overly serious, whiny, and often too self indulgent lyrics of some of her more fashionable peers. These songs are a celebration of life, love and yes, even death. Against a backdrop of modern phenomena such as cyberspace, Barbara, with her co-writer and producer John Perkins, has managed to weave in the romance and classicism of Shakespeare, with definite Beatles and Joni Mitchell influences. She manages to maintain her poetic integrity in the face of modern musical demands. The mix on some tracks, while quirky, shows an imaginative and thoughtful wish on the part of these artistes to break rules and be different. Even dangerous enough, for modern tastes while maintaining an overall classic pop quality. In my view they have succeeded. These songs have a definite "feel good" factor, and since arriving in my possesssion, the CD has hardly left my player. It's great to work to and even at 68 mins (which normally would be considered too long) the hour whizzes by in the company of Barbara McDonald. With all the best qualities of the aforementioned vanguard, "Madmen & Lovers" has something extra. This is no dreary thirty-something singer/songwriter full of angst. Barbara is 42, married with children and with all that being a mom entails, it makes this positive, sensuous, and passionate set of songs all the more unexpected. If this is the only money you spend on music before the millennium, and you love good music and wonderful lyrics, to buy this album is the best investment you can make. This is a must have album. - Dave Robbins

  • author: Steve Holtje

    Soulful vocals, well-crafted songs, and imaginatively varied production set this debut album apart from the current glut of female pop singers. Sounding neither angry nor mousy -- the two main paradigms lately BARBARA McDONALD sings in a gutsy, sincere style informed by classic soul, Joni Mitchell, and Rickie Lee Jones. ...Having gone to hear McDonald and Perkins perform an acoustic club set after enjoying this disc, I would say, however, that "live" is the context in which this material sounds the best. Still, there's so many attractive melodies and so much inspired singing on this 16-song CD that the flaws are easily overlooked. - Steve Holtje, Editor CDNOW, New York

  • author: Tom Lounges

    Hmmmm...let’s see now. Perhaps "new age hippie chick" might be the best way to describe the Pennsylvania based singer/songwriter behind this creative output of light fare. Neo-folky paeans of life and love strewn with pop nuances and slight Eastern influences fill this 16-song indie collection. It’s eclectic and esoteric. dangerously bordering on being New Age, but with a more sensual spark than most music of that genre. McDonald, who retired from music to raise a family, is back plying her talents after a nearly 21 year absence from performing and recording. And this return set is a stellar start for her mid-life renewal to her craft. A predominantly acoustic venture, this set includes tasty touches of grand piano, Appalachian Mountain dulcimer, and ebo for melodic seasoning. Yet it is her careening and crystalline voice that makes this record work. Her high range, lilting vocals often recall the likes of Joni Mitchell. and at times those of Joan Baez. The songwriting is fairly solid, although sometimes ringing a little too pretentious and saccharin-sweet. The trans-Atlantic production (done in both Pennsylvania and England is smooth and slick. The finest cuts are without a doubt the title track, Lay Me Down," ‘1 Never Lived This Day Before," and "Electronic Kanna." The latter track in particular is stand Out. An almost hypnotic dirge, "ELectronic Karma." burns itself into your brain and leaves you humming it long after the track has faded. Tom Lounges, Editor, Midwest Beat Magazine

  • author: DavidRothman

    My next few clicks will take me to the Web site of WETA, the largest public radio station in the D.C. area, so I can email producer-host Mary Cliff and see if Barbara MacDonald can't get some air time on "Traditions." Others listeners in other cities should do the same with other stations. No, I don't know Barbara MacDonald; I found her simply by keying in the name of a female artist and seeing who was working the same vein in MP3land. But from now on I'm an incorrigible booster. Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, the rest--Ms. MacDonald is in their territory but without being a clone. Let's hear more from her. David Rothman, Author, NetWorld: What People Are Really Doing on the Internet and What It Means to You (who wishes he'd run across her when he was writing his MP3 chapter)

  • author: Lyndon Johnson

    "The debut album from Barbara McDonald leaves a lot to be desired. A desire for more songs, more albums and the opportunity to see live performances. Madmen and Lovers is a collaboration and proof that the Internet may well be the future of the music industry, allowing new artists from across the globe to work together. Madmen and Lovers reads like the menu of a top restaurant, with the right variation of appetisers, main course and dessert. Actually the album has a suitably large portion of dessert which leaves the listener feeling indulged, but still able to manage another portion. Madmen and Lovers has a reassuring number of tracks that can trick you into thinking that you've been here before, singing "Electronic Karma" on the bus, humming "Pieces of You" in the bath. For all it's familiarity make no mistake, this is somewhere new, somewhere new and exciting. Madmen and Lovers mixes a blend of original tunes with lyrics everyone can relate to, whether they want to or not. Ms. McDonald's voice is a place where an Eurythmics' Annie Lennox would meet Joni Mitchell for lunch, and would be served coffee by Shania Twain. Madmen and Lovers documents a story through the life of someone like you, lets face it, this could be you! It's like moving into a new house, it takes a while to be completely comfortable, but once you spend the time you know it's all been worthwhile." - Lyndon Johnson, Broadcaster/Journalist, Aylesbury,England

  • author: MaryAnn

    Congratulations Barbara! Wonderful selection of melodies and lyrics.. I love it.. Hugs

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