Mac DeMarco: 2 Demos (Colored Vinyl) Vinyl LP

"Daddy’s on the sofa; pride of the neighborhood..." These are the outtakes and alternate versions from the sessions for 2, which is Mac Demarco’s second official release for Captured Tracks but technically only his debut full-length. The album offered a slightly more polished sound from the lo-fi warble that permeated Rock And Roll Night Club, and these demo recordings show a rougher side of the otherwise more polished tunes on 2. Lo-fi fetishists will love the kitchen table drums and overall murk of this early recording of “Cooking Up Something Good.” The sparkly guitars and tongue-click drums on these versions of “The Stars Keep On Calling My Name” and “Sherrill” recall Worn Copy-era Ariel Pink (I tried to get through this review without mentioning him but just couldn’t do it), and I think I might actually prefer them to the versions that ended up on 2. I'm definitely partial to these two (2!) recordings of “Dreamin” - both the scuzzy “Dreamin’ Fast” and the woozy screwtape version “Dreamin’ Slow” - over the album version. Best song title goes to the instrumental “Harrison Ford Escort,” which would eventually become the killer “Freaking Out The Neighborhood” on 2. Also check out the alternate instrumental demo of “My Kind Of Woman” and “Lonely Shredder,” which would serve as the instrumental basis of “Ode To Viceroy.” Limited edition repress on seafoam green vinyl to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Captured Tracks, recommended.

• seafoam green colored vinyl
• Captured Tracks 10th anniversary edition
• digital download included
• limited edition of 5000
• music label: Captured Tracks 2018

reviewed by avocado andrew 08/2018