Mac’s Music Matchup: Featuring Mac DeMarco’s Another One and Salad Days

What is Mac’s Music Matchup you may ask.
Well, it is a comparison of two albums from some of my favorite artists, old or new. Star ratings out of 5, my breakdown of my favorite tracks, tracklists, final comparisons, and similar artists to the topic.

By Mac Most

Another One 4/5           
Mac DeMarco’s , Another One, was released in August of 2015. Although it did not blow up into the mainstream alternative-indie top charts, but Mac DeMarco’s mini-LP is one that will continue to be sold in record stores to any and all indie fans in years to come. Although it’s nothing huge, it’s incredibly surreal sounding. If you’ve ever been cliff diving, this LP would be a perfect soundtrack to the GoPro video you took there. If you can imagine and enjoy head bopping Lo-Fi guitar, with some ocean breeze sounds in the back on some tracks, and not too sappy romantic lyrics your bound to like DeMarco’s piece. He doesn’t completely change his sound from Salad Day’s but some variance is only a good thing.
                        The tracks consist of:

1. The Way You’d Love Her
2. Another One
3. No Other Heart
4. Just to Put Me Down
5. A Heart Like Hers
6. I’ve Been Waiting For Her
7. Without Me
8. My House by the Water

            The album starts off incredibly strong, 3 fan favorites in a row. Mac with his unique personality takes an unconventional route and stacks the front half of the album with “The Way You’d Love Her”, “Another One”, and “No Other Heart”.  “The Way You’d Love Her” is a instant classic. You know within the first 30 seconds. With upbeat guitar riffs, and unique and strong vocals, you know you are in the right place spinning this album. Mac’s unique writing style approaches this love song with an upbeat rhythm, stylistic half-hearted lyrical effort. In the album title track, Mac’s distorted piano right off the bat is really a classic sound for the young developing artist that I assume will be utilized his whole career. With a great transition into the next song, “No Other Heart” is truly entertaining to listen to the lyrics intently, or just to kick your feet up and soak up the sound. That’s not all the LP has to offer. With some vinyl replay value, “Just to Put Me Down” is an underrated track. With some interesting guitar harmony and Mac with some echo-ish vocals “Just to Put Me Down” is a great album filler. In similar fashion to
Johnny’s Odyssey of Salad Days, an instrumental closing song is a great way to end it. DeMarco does it again with “My House by the Water” an easy song to listen to going to sleep ending your day. As well on that track, he leaves his address in New York, offering any and all listeners a coffee. At the end of the day, I could’ve used a couple more songs.

​Salad Days 4.5/5
Salad Days, the album that Mac DeMarco was first introduced to me. If you don’t listen to my show (Sunday 3-5), you now know I am a big fan of Mac. His second album, was released April of 2014. Well organized, composed and written, Salad Days is one of DeMarco’s best. Self-proclaimed indie-jazz, DeMarco brings back to life retro sounds with plenty of guitar effects and high pitched vocals. A true masterpiece, Salad Days is a personal favorite.
The tracks consist of :

1. Salad Days
2. Blue Boy
3. Brother
4. Let Her Go
5. Goodbye Weekend
6. Let My Baby Stay
7. Passing out the Pieces
8. Treat Her Better
9. Chamber of Reflection
10. Go Easy
11. Jonny’s Odyssey

The title track is a fan favorite and an easy one to get you hooked on Mac DeMarco. “Blue Boy” my favorite on the album, one of the best written and most unique songs on the album, the differing verses in “Blue Boy” are pretty special. The following track, “Brother” is a song that makes you think, and DeMarco’s lyrical ability is proven once again. Some other personal highlights of the album include Goodbye Weekend, Chamber of Reflection and Jonny’s Odyssey (Instrumental). While the lyrics are fun to listen to, the way this album is ordered and just performed in general is what makes it a work of art. The connection from song to song is most likely due to his consistent style or great ear. Mac’s charismatic and amusing songwriting pushes you through the slow tracks and repays’ you with different sounding upbeat songs like “Passing out the Pieces”.
            What makes Salad Days superior to Another One, while both well written and executed by DeMarco, is how deep it runs. There is no weak point in Salad Day’s except for maybe the title track.  With more and more listens Salad Day’s will become one of your favorites. Another One’s star power, such as “The Way You’d Love Her” is strong but outnumbered by Salad Days. If Mac DeMarco asked me which album is better he would know now.
Listen to my favorite of the 2 albums, I’ve Been Waiting For Her, off Another One
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC4NLUfQs-g&list=PLuB64vE-qYr4z15Oa1vRmyK0xD9MrHQvH&index=6
            With an incredibly unique sound, It is hard to find artists similar to Mac DeMarco but I found a few for you to listen to if you liked what you heard above.
Similar Artists:
King Krule (Guitar, Fast Paced, Jazz-Indie, Strong Vocals, Strong Red Hair)
            Favorite Song: A Lizard State
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti (Guitar, Wide Vocals, Weird Indie)
            Favorite Song: Round and Round
Ty Segall (Guitar, Medium Paced, Psychedelia-Indie, High Pitched Vocals)
Favorite Song: The Singer
Kurt Vile (Guitar, Medium Paced, Country-Indie, Varied Vocals
            Favorite Song: Pretty Pimpin’

​This is the first establishment of Mac’s Music Matchups. Please, if you liked this, continue to check wltl.net for more and other blogs, videos, and podcasts.