Mac demarco this old dog review
Uh-oh, look’s like I’m seeing more of my old man in me’ There’s a price tag hanging off of having all that fun Look how old and cold and tired and lonely he’s become His vocals here are presented in a a soft narrative tone, taking the listener through the singers thoughts on their subject, in this case reflecting, I think, on how the Canadian singer-songwriter’s success has changed him It begins with a short, repetitive electronic drum beat and gets on the road with an open sounding acoustic guitar ringing through the verse, reminding me of something the La’s may play. We’d already had a glimpse of the new album with February’s release of My Old Man, which I thought hinted at, not-so-much a new direction but, at least, a new flavour in Mac’s style. Blessed, surprisingly, with what can best be described as ‘tap’s aff’ weather’ in Scotland, Mac’s latest release was the perfect soundtrack to my spontaneous weekend holiday.
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I first listened to this album in full on a trip from my home in Glasgow to the Isle of Bute, just off the west coast.
Mac demarco this old dog review mac#
And This Old Dog proves he’s currently one of indie’s best songwriters.One of my favourites, Mac DeMarco, released his third full-length album at the start of the month and after a slightly pessimistic start to my last article, this has been a welcome remedy. “Dreams From Yesterday” proves this old dog is capable of learning new tricks. Hopefully, Mac hasn’t stopped dreaming just yet. The song deals with how accomplishing your dreams can have an adverse effect by leaving you without further purpose. Mac seemingly becomes Elvis Costello on “Dreams From Yesterday”, exposing a new side we haven’t previously seen. On “One Another”, Mac uses a swinging, mellow country rock melody while singing about the advantages to moving on from a toxic relationship. He sings, “Haven’t got the guts to call him up/ Walk around as if you never cared in the first place/ But if you never call you’ll end up stuck/ Without another chance to tell him off right to his face.” Pretty heavy, right?Īside from songs about his father, Mac also pens many about love and realizing his dreams. On the album’s final song, “Watching Him Fade Away”, Mac expands on this idea as he debates whether he should call his father. Musically, it sounds very close to “Chamber of Reflection” with its synth melody while lyrically it sounds like a man-to-man conversation between Mac and his dad. His father also turns up on “On The Level”. It isn’t the last time that DeMarco’s dad is the subject of his song. It’s also making him into a person he doesn’t want to become - his father. He sings, “There’s a price tag hanging off of having all that fun.” His partying ways are taking a toll on his physical and mental well being. Mac thinks back on all his crazy antics while looking in the mirror. The song has a chill acoustic melody but also harbors a melancholy feeling. This serves as the inspiration behind the album’s opening song, “My Old Man”. His father’s image is also something Mac doesn’t want to see reflecting back at him from the mirror. Although they’ve talked various times throughout the years, it’s not a healthy relationship. DeMarco’s father, an alcoholic and drug abuser, left his family while Mac was very young. However, a main theme of the album is his estranged relationship with his father. A chamber of self-reflection if you will.ĭeMarco barks up a lot of trees on This Old Dog. It’s an earnest statement on family, love, and self-reflection. With This Old Dog, he lets out his emotions.
While it’s easy to think of Mac as a slacker troubadour, who does crazy things on stage, he’s actually a gentle soul. That tag does apply truthfully to many of the songs here, but Mac also seems to be implying a greater maturity to his latest album. DeMarco’s already called This Old Dog his “acoustic” album.
Or at least that’s what he’s saying on his new album, This Old Dog. Just fresh off 27 years of existence, Mac DeMarco is already feeling old. Who let This Old Dog out? Captured Tracks,