There was a time when I barely knew Mac DeMarco. When I first saw him live in Toronto at North by Northeast in 2014, I didn’t get why so many young men were crowd surfing to his calm, happy set. But when I got the chorus from “Salad Days” stuck in my head on the way back to Madison, I finally started to get the music and recognize Mac’s regular-guy appeal. Now, with the release of his self-proclaimed “mini LP,” Another One, Mac DeMarco is growing on me more than ever.
The record’s first infectious riff comes on the lead track, “The Way You’d Love Her,” with a guitar that sounds slippery and, at times, even goofy. It’s one of the catchiest parts of the entire album, though this does not mean the guitar is lacking throughout the rest of the project. There are a significant amount of solos here for Mac, something I found to be unique compared to his previous work.
Despite Mac often utilizing that cheerful, upbeat guitar sound, I am most impressed by “Another One” and “A Heart Like Hers.” These slower jams are synth-driven, and they demonstrate Mac’s ability to write a variety of unique songs within a niche sound. Combine that with Mac’s casual, inviting singing voice, and you have my heart on a sleeve.
I’d never claim to be knowledgeable of love. But through music, anyone can connect with the sentiment, because songs leave interpretations up to the listener. That’s what (I think) makes love songs special. Writing an entire album of love songs is one thing, but creating something that an audience can still enjoy on their own terms deserves bonus points.