For the longest time, I didn’t understand the hype around Mac DeMarco. Yes, some of his songs are really good and fun to listen to but the high pedestal people put him on (especially when I read Pitchfork’s reviews) was a mere confusion to me. When Salad Days came out earlier this year I felt no strong attraction to it because in hindsight he pretty much offers the same things as 2. The Needle Drop expresses my earlier thoughts on this album well (click here to watch). Although the record’s been out for a while and it’s probably not as relevant to post a review on it, there’s no harm in sharing my thoughts, right?
Getting into an album needs a few pairs of eyes (or ears?), but once you’ve found that one song, you’re instantly hooked. As the record opens with songs like “Salad Days”, “Blue Boy” and “Brother”, this Canadian artist’s musical progression was no surprise to anyone. It highly resembles a lot of 2 with its overly clean guitar and tiny lead melodies that pick the songs up from sounding boring. Despite the cliche transition of adding synths in the second record, it really does great things to people’s reputations (namely Tame Impala’s grammy nomination). With its predominant use in “Passing Out Pieces” and “Chamber of Reflection”, it has definitely kicked Mac DeMarco up a notch as he shows variety and the ability to make real good slow jams. This was definitely the aspect that made me put him on the pedestal many see him on. Proving himself to be more than a Captured Tracks brand with his signature gap teeth and blue cap (which in itself pretty much makes everyone look like Mac DeMarco), his strong musicianship shines throughout the record.
Also well-known for making the whole female population woo as he sings about his kind of woman, this record serves more as an introduction to the singer’s experiences in adulthood whilst still proving how much of a sweetheart he is. In “Goodbye Weekend” he sings, “So don’t go telling me how this boy should be living his own life / Sometimes rough but generally speaking I’m fine,” which is (perhaps) his response to the criticism towards the classic silly Mac DeMarco behaviour we know so well just from googling images of him. In addition, there are more personal lyrics about this in “Salad Days”; “Oh mama, actin’ like my life’s already over / Oh dear, act your age and try another year” that seems to be intended at a smaller bubble in his life. Thus, perhaps the title ‘Salad Days’ refers to the ideology of being an adult. As pretentious as this may sound, a salad has become a symbol of taking care and control of your own body. It measures your responsibility as an adult because a healthy body equals to a ‘right’ mind. So maybe this record serves as a criticism to an ideology that enforces everyone to be another brick in the wall, and Mac DeMarco is telling you to not give a fuck and live life the way you want.
Although Salad Days doesn’t catch you off guard at first listen, it will grow on you as each layer peels off and the feeling of appreciation kicks in. Next thing you know you view Mac DeMarco as the king of pepperoni playboys (which he is). Although, I must admit that the second half of the album is where he truly shines. With this release he has shown a different shade of himself that is personally more likeable because of the toned down personality which, I guess, happens when you continue to grow up. So despite embodying the personality of a man child, Mac DeMarco has shown his true potential as a respectable songwriter.
