Salad Days
1 April 2014
Captured Tracks
3.5 stars out of 5
Salad Days is
Brooklyn-residing Canadian Mac DeMarco’s second LP under his own name, coming
after several self-released offerings under the moniker Makeout Videotape. It’s
the kind of slacker tropicalia tomfoolery that evangelical preachers warn you
about during their fire-and-brimstone laden sermons. It’s pure devil music, and
the devil appears to be a very chill dude, sipping an umbrella drink while he
watches the sunset from his beachside hot tub. If you doubt me, just remember
that DeMarco is the kind of guy who is likely to remove several articles of
clothing while performing such deceptively mellow tunes on stage. Enough said.
DeMarco’s sonic arsenal includes a very smooth voice—something
like a cross between Kurt Vile and Bill Callahan—and an electric guitar that is
apparently equipped with fifteen or so whammy bars. Accompanied by a rhythm
section that enjoys to stretch out and relax, DeMarco’s songs go down easily,
invoking a kind of dub-hypnosis along the way. Stand-out tracks include “Let
Her Go,” “Passing Out Pieces,” and “Treat Her Better.”
Enjoyable if not terribly challenging, Salad Days is a good record to soak up some poolside rays by. I
might even join you there, provided that you supply the umbrella drinks. What, you
think I make money writing these reviews? Oh, how terribly naïve you are, gentle reader, but I love you for it.
reviewed by Richard Krueger
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