Quirky Psych Pop from ONWE

10356266_593527770758839_7560360246708222537_nTo a certain degree, it’s hard to completely take the work of ONWE seriously.  There’s a silliness and oddity to his work (and personality if you believe the press); it puts the group in the same vein as Mac DeMarco and Ariel Pink if you ask me (I know you didn’t). Still, you put absurdities to the side, and you have this great piece of pop music that’s being built by the three piece.  Guitars curl in and out of the tune, keyboard spikes burst in and melody swirls around the “goo goo ga ga love” chorus.  This is definitely something that piques are interest as we look forward to an official release from the band in early 2015.

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ACL Recap & Photos: Day 2

ACLHave you recovered from your weekend debauchery at ACL Fest by now?  I know the ATH crew has been struggling this week, but we’re ready for more shows this weekend.  Now we shared with you our thoughts about Day 1 yesterday so naturally today we’ll be discussing Day two (Saturday).  We’ve got some fancy photos and a few opinions on what went down.  Check it out after the jump.

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Sinderlyn Reissue Walter TV and Girls Tears

bandThe label group that began with Captured Tracks has blossomed into this incredible super group of small labels, some of which are focusing on reissuing lost classics.  Today one of those labels, Sinderlyn, announced two great reissues, Walter TV and Girls Tears.  The first single below is from Walter TV; it’s a bouncy post-punk piece with the warbling vocals lurking beneath the main mix; the band is also known for their touring work with Mac Demarco.  I’m also hoping the song’s title, “Master Ludi” is a Herman Hesse reference. Girls Tears is an LA act with more of a frenetic pacing to their punk rock sound.  The albums are titled Appetite (WTV) and Tension (GT), and thanks to Sinderlyn, they’re seeing physical releases for the first time ever on September 23rd!

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Show Review: Mac Demarco @ Mohawk (4.13)

Upload Mac DeMarco 20140413212013It’s clear that Mac Demarco has the world eating out of the palm of his hands.  He’s received rave reviews from all over for his recent release, Salad Days, and he blew into Austin, selling out his show at the Mohawk weeks before the show even happened.  Honestly, I didn’t even know he was that huge, but his show definitely proved he’s got what it takes to keep pushing forward.

You can read on for more thoughts about the show, and some photos from our friend Bryan P. at PPI.

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Mac Demarco – Salad Days

Mac_DeMarco_Salad_DaysRating: ★★★★☆

Salad Days marks the artist known as Mac Demarco’s third full-length record, and while cult fans will argue for this gentleman’s inherent merit from the very start of his career on Rock and Roll Nightclub. Others, myself included, are somewhat newer to the Demarco train, with Two signifying a great deal of growth to his sound. Whether you’ve been a fan from the start or are just joining in, fans new and old both agree that Salad Days is a pleasure to listen to, showing a maturation to the Hill Billy meets jangly Rock & Roll style that Mac Demarco has come to signify.

What makes this third album a hit is that is seems like everything has finally come together: the sound is polished, but is still far from prim. Take the title track and opening number for a testament to this sentiment. The record starts with the line “As I’m getting older, chip upon my shoulder,” sets us up for the combination of whimsy and gravity that Mac Demarco is bringing to the table this time around. You have the playful rhyming couplet that describes a coming of age and seriousness. Here there is a genuine juxtaposition of sound and sentiment that seem to take on the perils of life without taking things too seriously. The sound is light and airy, bouncy as it lyrically tackles not-so-light topics. There’s a tightness to the jangle of the guitar riffs that come across as a stripped down version of Weezer a-la “Island in the Sun.”

The most refined song in my opinion comes toward the end, fittingly on “Chamber of Reflection.” A tinny synth accompanies the musical elements that Demarco has already laid out for us, spicing things up and combining the jangly rock with an R&B spin to it. Falsetto vocals open up the song, and also build upon themselves with harmonies through the repetition of “alone again.” This track is a push for the overall sound that we’ve come to know, and it makes me hopeful for the future of this gentleman’s work: he doesn’t shy from growth and change, but incorporates it into his stride.

At the end of the record, you’ll definitely be ready to start it over again. What you have is not an hour-long album of epic proportion with cinematic lyrics and complicated string arrangements, but rather a simple combination of jangly guitar riffs, groovy bass lines, plain percussion and vocals that don’t try to be anything they aren’t. Such is what makes Salad Days enticing: the simplicity and ease are the centerpiece to which Mac Demarco has learned to build upon to create an enjoyable and tireless record. It’s easy to shy away from all the hype around this artist, but I invite you to see for yourself what all the talk is about.

Mac DeMarco Is All Growns Up

macdemarcoEvery one has been raving about this new Mac DeMarco tune for the last 24 hours or so, and I’ll admit that I actually find this quite deserved.  While he’s still playing his own style, you can tell by listening that there’s a majority in his vocal approach, not to mention in the lyrical content of the track.  It’s quite refreshing to see an artist you enjoy put all the pieces together in order to come out with something that’s really compelling, rather than just forced popularity.  It’s a special jam and I look forward to the release of Salad Days via Captured Tracks on April 1st.

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Mac Demarco – 2

Rating: ★★★★☆

Earlier this year everyone raved about Mac Demarco after the release of Rock N’ Roll Night Club, which had Mac scatter-brained, musically speaking.  He’s back already with his first proper full-length, 2, focused and ready to take aim at your most intimate chill session.  If you need that will help you unwind, then turn on the subtle genius of Mac.

Almost immediately, I was won over.  “Cooking Up Something Good” is a catchy little guitar ditty, opening with a funky guitar line that almost seems off-key at points–in fact I’m positive he bends those strings out of tune.  Still, you wouldn’t be able to escape the relaxed atmosphere Mac Demarco offers you from the get-go.  Following that laid-back vibe is “Dreaming,” a tune that’s coated slightly in the atmospherics of Demarco’s guitar.  There’s something about his voice that draws you in, even with its lack of polish; it’s got a smooth delivery, yet it resonates as if he’s singing from your couch.

My ears can’t help but think of 2 as the perfect counterpoint to Real Estate‘s Days.  Where as that band pleasantly spun harmonies around bright guitar sounds, Mac seems content to slow things down with a similar guitar sound and a more intimate approach.  “The Stars Keep on Calling My Name” definitely has that twang in the guitar, but the slower pacing, if that’s possible, allows for the listener to sit back and absorb the melody, rather than pursue a more passionate sound.  That’s not to say that Demarco isn’t passionate about what he’s doing, or that you won’t feel an emotional draw, but rather that he seems more content to be your friendly couch-crashing troubadour. One listen to “Still Together,” the record’s closing number and you’ll completely understand my sentiment.  The tune features a quiet guitar strum and vocals that strain to reach the right pitch.  Those little imperfections demonstrate that 2 is created by an artist in his own world, but one that’s willing to let you be a participant.

There’s also some of that clever electric guitar jamming that made Mac Demarco so mesmerizing, even though he spins it in his own way.  He uses it to open “Freaking Out the Neighborhood,” and then sinks into his groove to offer more of a croon with the guitar sinking further into the background.  The added touch of backing vocals helps perfect this tune too. But, for me the most special moment comes during “My Kind of Woman,” featuring a swirling guitar that wraps around Mac’s voice, and the faint hint of a female vocal counterpart.  Here you’ll find the song a slow trudge of what one can only describe as pretty sounds–and that’s never a bad thing.

I hate comparing musicians to others, especially if it really has nothing to do with the artist at hand, but I’m going to say that Mac Demarco seems poised to make a Kurt Vile-ish run at the masses.  As a songwriter, he seems to be equal in his output, and 2 is a representation of a musician you can’t really put in one place.  We’re witnessing the unique birth of a man who’s got a true craftsman’s style to songwriting; he’s just getting started, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/03-Freaking-Out-The-Neighborhood.mp3]

Download:Mac Demarco – Freaking Out The Neighborhood [MP3]

Show Preview: Mac Demarco @ Mohawk (9/21)

Date 9/21/12
Location Mohawk
Doors 9pm
Tickets $8 @ Frontgate

A couple bits of news for new favorite artist Mac Demarco.  First up, he’s stopping into town on Friday night for a show on the inside stage at Mohawk in Austin.  He’ll be supported on that show by Gabe Hascall.  Second, a new single entitled “” was just made available as a free download and is floating around the web.  Don’t forget that new album 2 will be available on October 16th via Captured Tracks.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/03-Freaking-Out-The-Neighborhood.mp3]

Download: Mac Demarco – Freaking Out The Neighborhood [MP3]

New Tunes from Mac DeMarco

It too me awhile to get into Rock and Roll Night Club, Mac DeMarco‘s recent release, but the more I listened the more his songwriting grew on me.  With his latest single from his forthcoming LP 2, he’s continuing to grow before our ears, and in doing so, he’s really warming his way into my heart.  This track encapsulates everything I dig about his tunes, from his captivating, to his lyrics, and even down to the twang of the guitar twinkling in the foreground.  Mac’s definitely making a name for himself, and you can grab his new record on October 16th from Captured Tracks.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/08-My-Kind-of-Woman.mp3]

Download:Mac De Marco – My Kind of Woman [MP3]

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