“★★★ - "With a clear concept of what makes his gimmickless songs most effective, McFarland wears his heart on his sleeve, but doesn't let it bleed on the carpet” - Michael Toland
“Chris McFarland unites a raspy vocal style typically associated with heavier styles of music and juxtaposes it with a lighter acoustic folk sound, creating an interesting style dubbed “angry folk”.” - Jack Lyons
— americanaUK
“McFarland genuinely delivers during much of the record, complete with soaring moments that make one’s hairs stand on end.” - Shawn M. Haney
“One can imagine McFarland being this generations Bruce Springsteen if he wanted to go down that route ” - John Book
“providing all the evidence you need that he's a singer/songwriter extraordinaire. ” - Charles A. Smith
“McFarland has held up a steadfast commitment to musical storytelling, deploying his lyric honesty and arresting voice to illuminate and engage emotions that are at once intimately specific and helplessly universal” - Jonathan DiMarco
— Rattlecan Radio
“He reminds me a bit of this years model Elvis Costello... Worth a listen...Stand out track is Simple Selfish Plan” - Ginger Coyote
“The sounds on Beauty and Undertow are in their own world, one full of passion, melody” - Mary Leary
“The new EP is McFarland at his best, pouring out his frustration and anger on one song and waxing poetic on the next. It’s an urgent set of tunes that haunt, haunt, haunt – intense and out on the edge” - Jen Stratosphere
— DOA: For the Love of Music