Mac Demarco is a man of many facets. Part goofball singer with a large tooth gap and an even larger sense of humour. Then there's the chain smoking, guitar strumming singer who bares his soul through tunes. In his past two albums he has let the goofball shine, 'Rock and Roll Nightclub' and '2'. But Salad Days is a slightly more morose affair.
Blue Boy is still the hazy and lazy Mac Demarco sound. But the lyrics are filled with doubt.
Every time the sun shines worried about his haircut. It's like a tumblr post but with more slacker and less Starbucks. And throughout the album it doesn't get happier, just more brilliant in a way.
Perhaps it's the New York air that Salad Days was recorded in, but the soundscape of it is bordering on big. 2 sounded like it was made in a shoe cupboard, but songs like Chamber Of Reflection are more kitchen sized. With Mac's signature high notes it can sound a bit like Toro Y Moi, especially with the introduction of keyboards.
Goodbye Weekend is the perfect slacker hit. It all just sounds so perfect, listen to it when your week has gone to crap (but only in the sun). Then I looked at the lyrics,
what they're preaching is sure to change me should re-arrange me. Mac is telling his Honey that don't try to help him or whatever because
it won't work on me. This perfect juxtaposition of haze and craze is beautiful, but it doesn't always sit too well.
The album feels completed by Let My Baby Stay. Its the beg to the feds to keep his bae with him really. It's just lazy and beautiful.
She's happy staying with her Macky he wines, and all you do is feel for the clown. Mac Demarco is just a sweetheart, and so is Salad Days.
FAVOURITE SONG: LET MY BABY STAY
FAVOURITE LINE: WHAT MOM DON'T KNOW HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON ME
RATING: 8/10
BEST PLACE TO LISTEN: ON A BEACH DRINKING A WARM BEER BECAUSE YOUR LIFE IS AWFUL
