'Another One' shows that shorter releases can still be just as fulfilling as a conventional studio album, and this one does leave you yearning for more. Another One, Mac Demarcos second album, the follow up to Salad Days was introduced to a pocket of New York via slightly unconventional means. His soft yet intricate guitar playing sits at the centre of this new collection, giving the whole record a real sense of cohesion and makes for a sublime listen.ĭeMarco is clearly on the top of his game at the moment. Obviously feeling a wave of inspiration and motivation in the last 15 months, this new material manages to recapture that feel-good summertime vibe of his previous album and gives it its own package. 'Another One' simply picks up where 'Salad Days' left off. Granted this new record has been dubbed a "mini-album", due to its eight-track length, but from the first listen it is clear that DeMarco wanted these new tracks out there and wasn't prepared to add any filler. I may not be able to accept your invitation for coffee at your house, Mac, but I'll sure be soundtracking my mornings with Another One for the next couple weeks.Despite it being just over a year since Mac DeMarco released his incredible studio album 'Salad Days', the laid-back songwriter has returned with yet another full-length release. After a couple listens through, the country twang of 'I've Been Waiting For Her' and the Brian Wilson-esque pop of 'No Other Heart' seem to be the standouts. Forgiving its lack of ambition, one can definitely have fun with Another One. If Another One doesn't exactly kick off phase two of Mac's career, it does serve as harmless filler until then.
Could this possibly be a taste of wonderful weirdness yet to come? Is Another One simply the jangle-pop songs Mac wanted to get out of his system before going somewhere radical? One can certainly hope. The only real exception to the same-old feel of this new record is the ambient closer, 'My House By The Water.' Featuring the sound of lapping waves beneath faintly ominous keyboards, this outro sounds more like a Boards Of Canada track than a Mac DeMarco one. The unique, heavily-chorused guitar tone and the laid-back grooves rooted in '70s soft rock support gently catchy melodies with intelligent lyrics that nimbly tread the line between heartfelt and wry. The only aspect of Another One that really distinguishes it from previous Mac DeMarco releases is its use of keyboards, most audible on the title track and the ambivalent 'A Heart Like Hers.' While not propelling Mac to anywhere new, the soft-focus sound of these keys enriches Another One's polaroid loveliness. A loosely themed concept album about love, with each song exploring a different emotion (longing, jealousy, frustration, joy), Another One bears the distinctive hallmarks that have, so far, come to signify a DeMarco release. Most of the songs on Another One elicit similar feelings of both charm and deja vu. As lovely as the track is, it is eerily similar to 'Blue Boy' from Mac's last album, especially in its chorus. But like that old jersey, 'The Way You'd Love Her' is also faded, slack and overly familiar. For those of us who love Mac, the song is comfortable and warm, like an old jersey. 'The Way You'd Love Her' kicks off the pint-sized record with chiming guitar riffs and a bittersweet chorus. But heaven almighty are they similar to Mac's previous material. Most of these eight songs are sun-drenched and heartfelt, and worthy additions to the Mac DeMarco canon. Like his last two records, Another One features twinkling guitars, shuffling drums and Mac's lackadaisical voice, all bobbing together down a gentle stream. Disappointingly, his aptly-titled new mini-album Another One is mostly more of the same. I hoped that now Mac had perfected his signature sound with Salad Days, he might change it up somewhat to keep from stagnating.
Songs like 'Salad Days', 'Brother' and 'Treat Her Better' delivered on the melodic promises of his debut in a big way. Though Salad Days explored little new sonic territory, it did find Mac's sound deepening, with more pensive lyrics and mellifluous compositions than we'd heard before. Last year's sequel Salad Days was arguably an even stronger set of songs. Behind every jangling number was Mac's gap-toothed grin, part of a lovable persona which also includes an infatuation with cigarettes. His first full-length album, 2, found him already a charismatic and compelling music presence. Over the last three years, Mac's been making waves with his brand of lovesick guitar pop. That esteemed title surely belongs to Mac DeMarco, the talented young singer-songwriter from Canada. Rejoice, everyone! Your favourite John Lennon-impersonating hipster doofus is back. Review Summary: If Another One doesn't exactly kick off phase two of Mac's career, it does serve as harmless filler until then.
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