Mac Demarco, an alternative indie artist who rose to fame with his 2014 album Salad Days, released a new album on Friday, January 20th. He worked on the new instrumental album on a solo road trip starting in Gualala, California, through Canada, although mentions Edmonton and Rockaway as places he was reminiscing on from growing up. He took with him a makeshift studio so that he could stop and record songs as soon as the inspiration hit.
With each individual track being named after the city it was made in, Mac tells the story of his feelings of loneliness and the never-ending road on which he embarks for his trip. The album, titled Five Easy Hot Dogs, proves that you don’t always need vocals to create a feeling of sadness or make you think about everything a little more deeply.
Mac set out on the road trip with his one goal in mind being that he would have an album finished by the end of it. His cross-country trip is filled with ups and downs, as told by each song. While some are disappointed by the lack of vocals, I think that it leaves room for interpretation and could make you feel deeper emotions and thoughts as opposed to lyrics that could confine the listener to one specific emotion.
There was a clear amount of effort put into making this album what it is, and the pace doesn’t feel rushed whatsoever. Care was put into the album and it shows when you listen to each song carefully and understand where he was coming from when creating these songs based on his personal feelings and experiences in each individual city.
Although I enjoyed the album, it did feel like it was lacking something. I would give the album a 6.5/10 and makes for great listening, whether you are looking for background music for your day or something you can sit down and listen to while thinking deeply.
