 |
| Photo: Self-Titled Mag |
Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog (Captured Tracks)
Released: May 5th, 2017
The fun-loving and forever goofy Mac DeMarco is back with another full-length album, This Old Dog. This is Mac's latest release since his Another One LP/EP that released in August 2015. He is by far one of my favorite indie-rock artists. His use of jangly guitar licks with fluid bass lines and simple drumming make for such catchy indie-hits. All of his albums have a beautiful mixture of simple lo-fi and psych pop instrumentation. Mac continues that sound on This Old Dog, although changing it up little bit. You can hear his influences of Paul Simon and early James Taylor seeping through. The use of more acoustic guitar, woodblocks, and even harmonica is different for Mac but that doesn't stop him from continuing his indie-rock magic. The lyrics hold a theme of family issues (specifically his father), the feeling of growing up, and love relationships.
The lead song "My Old Man" and the title track "This Old Dog" are back-to-back acoustic jams. The use of the simple drum machine pattern on "My Old Man" fits the song so well and provides a new and different feeling to a Mac song. Both songs dealing with the perspective of growing up, becoming an adult, or becoming one of your parents.
We finally hear that electric guitar sound on the fifth song "One Another" and again on "Still Beating". A nice upbeat melody that closes with a clean guitar solo, "One Another" deals with the optimism to be found in a break-up. That same feel is also found on "Baby You're Out", Mac is always looking at the positive side of everything, even if it is a rough break-up. DeMarco continues to share various perspectives about break-ups on "For the First Time" and "Still Beating". The very shiny and glistening synths on "For the First Time" are accompanied by lyrics of Mac missin' his girl. One of my favorites on the whole album, "Still Beating" has such a smooth guitar riff. I love the combination of the acoustic guitar rhythm section that sits below the tight-twangy electric guitar. It creates an extremely enjoyable and cohesive sound.
The more introspective cuts like "Dreams from Yesterday" and "A Wolf Who Wears Sheeps Clothes", we hear Mac discussing the concept of giving up on your dreams as well as how he is trying to make sense of how he is perceived by people and fans. Again, these songs just have a completely different instrumentation and musical structure than his previous indie-rock albums, but Mac finds a way to make these new sounds very familiar and comforting.
The synth work shines through on the awesome single "On the Level". The main synth melody that kicks off the song and repeats throughout the track is so chilling and shimmering, very very very catchy. Hands down my favorite on the whole album.
On the closer, "Watching Him fade Away", we hear Mac discussing his inner-struggle with his personal relationship with his father. Mac croons, even though we barely know each other it still hurts watching him fade away. Mac never had a good relationship with his father. He was a meth addict who left him, his mother and brother when he was very young. His relationship was very awkward and indifferent with his father. Mac continues on the second verse, the thought of him no longer being around, well sure it would be sad but not really different. He wants to care and have sympathy for him even though he never really knew him, but still notices it would never really change a thing because they never had a true relationship.
Mac DeMarco deals with the hardships of break-ups, growing up, and familial relationships all throughout This Old Dog. He presents a new and different sound to his listeners through different instrumentation, but provides his usual "jizz-jazz" touch, making his fans feel comfortably adjusted to this new production. This album is not only a change for Mac, but it shows his growth and maturity, specifically through songwriting and lyrical content. This is definitely his best release to date. Listen below...
We finally hear that electric guitar sound on the fifth song "One Another" and again on "Still Beating". A nice upbeat melody that closes with a clean guitar solo, "One Another" deals with the optimism to be found in a break-up. That same feel is also found on "Baby You're Out", Mac is always looking at the positive side of everything, even if it is a rough break-up. DeMarco continues to share various perspectives about break-ups on "For the First Time" and "Still Beating". The very shiny and glistening synths on "For the First Time" are accompanied by lyrics of Mac missin' his girl. One of my favorites on the whole album, "Still Beating" has such a smooth guitar riff. I love the combination of the acoustic guitar rhythm section that sits below the tight-twangy electric guitar. It creates an extremely enjoyable and cohesive sound.
The more introspective cuts like "Dreams from Yesterday" and "A Wolf Who Wears Sheeps Clothes", we hear Mac discussing the concept of giving up on your dreams as well as how he is trying to make sense of how he is perceived by people and fans. Again, these songs just have a completely different instrumentation and musical structure than his previous indie-rock albums, but Mac finds a way to make these new sounds very familiar and comforting.
The synth work shines through on the awesome single "On the Level". The main synth melody that kicks off the song and repeats throughout the track is so chilling and shimmering, very very very catchy. Hands down my favorite on the whole album.
On the closer, "Watching Him fade Away", we hear Mac discussing his inner-struggle with his personal relationship with his father. Mac croons, even though we barely know each other it still hurts watching him fade away. Mac never had a good relationship with his father. He was a meth addict who left him, his mother and brother when he was very young. His relationship was very awkward and indifferent with his father. Mac continues on the second verse, the thought of him no longer being around, well sure it would be sad but not really different. He wants to care and have sympathy for him even though he never really knew him, but still notices it would never really change a thing because they never had a true relationship.
Mac DeMarco deals with the hardships of break-ups, growing up, and familial relationships all throughout This Old Dog. He presents a new and different sound to his listeners through different instrumentation, but provides his usual "jizz-jazz" touch, making his fans feel comfortably adjusted to this new production. This album is not only a change for Mac, but it shows his growth and maturity, specifically through songwriting and lyrical content. This is definitely his best release to date. Listen below...
Listen: Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog
Rating: 8/10
Fav Songs: My Old Man, This Old Dog, Baby You're Out, For the First Time, One Another, Still Beating, Dreams from Yesterday, A Wolf Who Wears Sheeps Clothes, One More Love Song, On the Level
Comments
Post a Comment