Released: 2017

Genres: Bedroom Pop, Singer-Songwriter, Indie Pop, Jangle Pop, Psychedelic Pop, Soft Rock

The Musiquarium’s This Old Dog Review Score: 9 out of 10

2 introduced Mac DeMarco to the world and Salad Days only improved upon Mac’s bedroom guitar pop formula. With This Old Dog, Mac starts stripping things down and utilizing more acoustic guitars, but he also increases his use of synthesizers and even gets a little experimental, like on the penultimate track, Moonlight on the River and its noisy, abrasive, climax.

My Old Man starts off with a midi drum track (in contrast to live drums on previous albums) and explores Mac’s relationship with his estranged father, with Mac acknowledging how he can’t outrun his own blood, and will continue to see his father in him. The folky title track evokes the spirit of Neil Young.

Baby You’re Out sounds like it could have been on 2015’s mini album, Another One. For the First Time and On the Level recall the sound of the Salad Day‘s Chamber of Reflection, with its glistening synths. One More Love Song is one of Mac’s moodiest, most heartfelt ballads. Watching Him Fade Away is a tragic, gentle outro, where Mac comes to terms with his father’s passing.

This Old Dog is definitely Mac DeMarco’s most grown up work, as well as his most sonically-diverse album and while it’s not initially as immediate of an album as 2 or Salad Days were, it’s probably his most rewarding album upon subsequent listens.

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

Back to the 2017 Album Guide or the Mac DeMarco Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard