It’s used sparingly throughout the album, but to great effect. “On The Level” is the track that takes the most advantage of the newfound synth, which turns it into a standout. “For The First Time” is built around a shimmering synth line with the bass at the front of the mix. He also incorporates much more synth into his music, a move I’m surprised he didn’t make before as it complements his sound so well. It’s basically Mac’s equivalent to “The Shrine / An Argument” off Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes. “Moonlight On The River” is the longest song in his discography and starts off unassuming, but ends up breaking down into a dissonance-filled climax. The way his voice breaks when delivering the final line, “Sister, know my heart goes out to you”, is a moment that sticks with you. “Sister” is an all-too-brief bare bones number that brings out the emotion behind Mac’s voice. It helps ground the usually exuberant songwriter in reality.ĭeMarco explores more ideas musically than he ever has before on This Old Dog. He even channels his inner Sufjan with the lyrics, “I’m home, there’s moonlight on the river, everybody dies”. The closer, “Watching Him Fade Away”, makes me think most of the album is inclined to be about the latter.
The songs on heartache can either be interpreted as the loss of a lover or him describing his relationship with his father. “This Old Dog”, the somber title track, is another song on growing old, but is lyrically more content. Although he’s only 27 years old, This Old Dog is a diary of Mac processing growing older and coming to terms with heartache, all while dealing with a move from New York to Los Angeles.
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Mac touches on aspects of the jangly, guitar-focused sound that made him a contender in the music scene on “Baby You’re Out” and “A Wolf Who Wears Sheeps Clothes”, but most of the record is noticeably more downbeat. DeMarco has a very carefree personality and is a vibrant live performer, but when you stop and listen to the lyrics they reflect a darker image. He never had a positive relationship with his father and the song expresses fears he has of seeing more of his father in himself. Mac sings about a fear of aging, a theme he explores further on the album. This Old Dog begins with the gently rollicking guitar of “My Old Man”. DeMarco’s songwriting has matured along with him, and This Old Dog picks up right where Another One left off. Don’t worry, the guitars with the tone only he seems to be able to find are still present on most of the album, but there’s also the addition of synths and more room for the songs to breathe. Although DeMarco has been on a slow shift away from the jangle pop of his debut, 2, and his breakout, Salad Days, this album marks the biggest shift in style for him. He even gave out his address to fans on the last track of his mini-LP, Another One. Whether you love him or hate him for his wild antics and goofy personality, it’s defined him as one of the nicest musicians around. This Old Dog, released in 2017, is Mac DeMarco’s third proper studio album.
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