Mac Demarco – Another One
Another One is the latest LP from the 21st century’s goofball icon, Mac Demarco. A revered hero among hipsters and college students, this Canadian musician has made quite a name for himself in the past few years with his lighthearted love ballads and his spunky media persona. Another One is sure to satisfy the appetites of Demarco’s biggest fans with classic Mac lyrics and heavy guitar sounds.
Another One embodies Mac’s musically playful side, with lots of textured guitar tones and synthesizers. Never one to keep the mood of the music somber or downcast, Demarco stays fresh and upbeat with his rhythms and hits a wide range of notes. On the track Another One, Demarco tries his hand at the keyboard, giving the song a hollowness that is reminiscent of an organ being played in a large church. Mac has seamlessly mastered the art of discombobulated simplicity in his music, with layers of raw instrumentals overlapping one another to create something that’s really not so simple.
Lyrically, Mac’s album tells a love story through prose that touches on different stages and individual interpretations of love. He journeys through heartbreak and desire, but in a way that doesn’t make Another One feel strictly like a breakup album. The first track, ‘The Way You’d Love Her,’ is written about the naivete enshrined in the process of love, particularly first love. The ways in which we fantasize about romance and idealize ourselves in relationships are all explored on Another One.
This LP certainly has a youthful take on love, and younger listeners will be able to empathize with the perspective of the album. While preliminary lust and longing are major themes on Another One, Demarco does not shy away from opening up about the stark realities of love and the darkness that comes with them. On the track ‘Without Me,’ Mac sings about the all-consuming thought of the person you love no longer loving you back. Demarco’s album will definitely strike a chord with anyone who’s ever been in love, as he touches upon the human tendency to be irrational when we are in love. Mac poetically sings about the pains of learning to find your own happiness to bring you joy in life, rather than relying on the happiness of someone else.
‘A Heart Like Hers’ strips down the emotional barriers we build up to avoid heartbreak. With lyrics like, “Tried so hard to believe in something that will never be,” Demarco reminds listeners that illusions can be just as powerful as reality when it comes to love, and the shattering of those illusions can be just as painful as losing the real thing. Although Mac does recognize the disappointment that comes with being in love, he equally keeps things light by singing about the joys of love. ‘I’ve Been Waiting for Her’ is a beachy, sunny song about the beat of a girl’s heart. The little guitar strokes in the song resonate with the sound of a heart beating fast, just as you may feel when you see the person you love smile.
The best part of the album by far is the last song, ‘My House on the Water.’ It’s a beautiful finale to the complexity of Another One, both lyrically and musically. The song is simply the sound of waves crashing and water trickling, with a few guitar chords mixed into it. After a few beats of silence, in true Mac fashion, he speaks out his address and invites listeners to come by for a cup of coffee. Yes, it really is Mac’s address. And yes, he really does want you to come by for cup of coffee—a true ode to his spontaneity and humility. Supposedly since the release of this album about 30 people have already stopped by. If only more artists were as candid.
Another One is a tremendously beautiful piece of music that plays on the heartstrings of all those with a soul. The album has a vintage feel to it, akin to studying an old photograph of two lovers. While Another One will surely be a hit with Mac fans, it lacks creativity and diversity lyrically, with the entirety of the LP covering the sole topic of love. Musically, Demarco can do no wrong, so his hypnotizing guitar playing will be the main attraction of Another One.
