Released: 2012

Genres: Bedroom Pop, Jangle Pop, Psychedelic Pop

The Musiquarium’s 2 Review Score: 9 out of 10

Following his mini album Rock and Roll Night Club, which released earlier in the year, Mac DeMarco’s 2 shows immense growth, with some incredible guitar playing and a sound that brings to mind the jangle rock of eighties bands like The Smiths or R.E.M., along with some Beatles-like vocals.

Cooking Up Something Good is a playful opener with a surprisingly trippy chorus. Annie is another highlight, with a trippy chorus of its own. Ode to Viceroy is a love letter devoted to Mac’s favourite brand of cigarettes. Dreaming is aptly-titled. The lovely My Kind of Woman is backed by the gentle hum of an organ. Songs like Freaking Out the Neighbourhood and The Stars Keep On Calling My Name showcase Mac’s expert explorations of the fretboard.

2 is a promising start for the Canadian songwriter, and a defining piece of the 2010s bedroom pop genre.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Mac DeMarco on Discogs.

Back to the 2012 Album Guide or the Mac DeMarco Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard