Music
Press
"Marykate O'Neil's debut release has the flavor of an albumm recorded amidst cups of coffee and giddy laughter. It has both a freshness and simplicity which are enchanting. Influenced by the fuzzy side of 60s pop, it is "beat-pop" --- and the entire album has the good sense of not having any down time. Marykate's skillful melodies and delicate voice are veritable pearls of sweetness. Deeply authentic and original, Marykate has crafted a style with humor and irony intact anchored in daily life". 4 stars - Rolling Stone - rolling stone
the record sparkles with classic touches and Marykate's winning vocals are full of tenderness and humor throughout. To paraphrase XTC's Andy Partridge: "It's really super, Supergirl." - performing songwriter
"If Elvis Costello and Astrud Gilberto swapped spit in another time dimension, singer/guitarist Marykate O'Neil would be the musical spawn of their eros. A doll-faced talent with enough 60's chutzpah and '90's cynicism to spark her own songwriting genre -- call it 'beat-pop'. O'Neil's self titled debut is a spotlessly constructed concoction of acoustic ballads, retro organ stompers and smartly choreographed electric guitar bop". Picked as an Essential Listen --- CMJ
- cmj
"A debut release as a singer/songwriter can be a harrowing initiation to be sure. One favor in Marykate O'Neil's court is production by Michael Deming and Jill Sobule. Despite the big names involved, O'Neil is hands down the star of her own debut. It's ironic that this 14 song album's recording was split between Nashville, TN and the newly minted hipster mecca of Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood -- O'Neil's music is the perfect blend of metropolitan indie high society and Music City's tradtion of sanguine, heart-crafted songwriting." -- rockpile - rockpile
a charming sophmore effort and a rare instance where everything simply clicks. this album is pure magic from start to finish - filter magazine
"A glorious sophmore effort. Highly recommended. O’Neil is the Carole King of The New Millennium!" - amplifier
Discography
Marykate O'Neil s/t
Marykate O'Neil - 1-800-bankrupt
Photos
Bio
Living a post-college cubicle life as a temp in lower Manhattan, and living by night as a shut-in in Brooklyn, O’Neil would pen the songs that made up the critically acclaimed self-entitled, "Marykate O’Neil". The no budget record, funded entirely by O’Neil’s unofficial sponsor, visa (pre-approved), went on to peak at #8 on the CMJ charts, who in turn called the record "spotlessly constructed" and picked it as an essential listen. Rockpile said it was "the perfect blend of metropolitan indie high society and Music City's tradition of sanguine, heart-crafted songwriting."
Encouraged, O’Neil charged another. The new record (aptly titled) is "1-800-bankrupt". It is co-produced by Roger Moutenot (Yo la Tengo; Beulah; Joseph Arthur; Elvis Costello; Sleater-Kinney;) and Jill Sobule. The recorded was made in pieces, partly in O’Neil’s Brooklyn apartment (which accounts for some of the ambient noise -- i.e. yelling, rain, honking) and partly in Rogers’s studio in Nashville. The record features performances by Marykate’s Brooklyn neighbors and Nashville friends: Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Jill Sobule, James Haggerty (Josh Rouse); Mickey Grimm (Butterfly); Brad Jones; Jim Boggia and Rob Burger(Tin Hat Trio).
Prior to life as a NYC-based solo artist, Marykate was the singer/songwriter/guitarist for Boston indie-poppers Piewackit, who played alongside the likes of Elliot Smith, Mary Lou Lord, Lois, and Ida. Piewackit made a never released record for IRS in its autumn years with the help of producer Michael Demming (Lily’s; Pernice Bros; apples in stereo). In 1-800-Bankrupt, Marykate expands upon the sound that first brought her all the great attention. Performing Songwriter exclaims: "1-800-damn right!" Amplifier has declared O’Neil the "Carole King of The New Millennium!" And Filter Magazine calls 1-800-Bankrupt “pure magic from start to finish”.
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