ALBUM: Salad Days (2014)
MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$$
Of course, I have to stifle a laugh when I hear an earnest young singer of 23 open the album with: ‘As I’m getting older, chip upon my shoulder.’
Mac DeMarco, who is now 27, says his ‘salad days are over.’
Well at 58 my lettuce wilted long ago.
Act your age, he says on the record. Not going to do it.
One thing, this Canadian is as mellow (maybe even yellow) as an old folkster.
I like him.
He’s got an updated Donovan style with a little frost on it. That’s Donovan Leitch of Hurdy Gurdy man and Sunshine Superman fame. (See now I’m pulling my old man references — back to the 1960s, how about that! Donovan was charting 50 years ago). Also that’s Donovan of Mellow Yellow fame if you missed the reference above.
Donovan was kind of dismissed as a hopelessly helpless hippie at points in his career, a Dylan clone at other parts. But he put out some great music.
Like Donovan, Mac does some spacey slow note-bending guitar work. His words, despite my funning with them, are good. Production is immaculate. It’s that ethereal feel that reminds me of Donovan mixed with a little sleepy time jazz as you hear on Johnny’s Odyssey.
This is a new album, 2014. My sister and her family gave me this one along with some others still yet to be reviewed. The idea being that if I keep my vow of counting down all my vinyl before I die of brain disease, she (and others) are extending my life by adding to my collection. I can’t argue with that, although I do have a lot of albums before I get to the Z’s!
Thanks for this one, nice gentle sound. DeMarco is a young person with a wise heart. Just like my younger sister.