Current events suggest our country’s not doing too great on most counts, drugs so I have a proposition for our world leaders: channel your inner Mac Demarco.
Yes, Mr. Viceroy might not win many votes from the anti-smoking camp, but otherwise, we are in dire need of wacky Macky’s psychedelic tinged yacht rock bliss in high stress decision-making. Armed with that gapped smile and a bit of riffing, most problems and problematic people would either be melted down to sunny innocuousness or floated off the planet by the buoyancy of Mac’s disposition.
Mac is coming up on his (sorta) fourth record with the aptly titled Another One in August and I don’t feel his charm has wavered for even one song of his career. From Rock and Roll Night Club in all of its gauzy, AM radio station glory to 2’s Lou Reed-reared slacker rock to Salad Days’s further polish are their own separate worlds, but his legion of fans are consistent in their devotion. Still, any leader must have a few dissenters. I foolishly assumed Mac was exempt from this consistent truth, but my dad continually proves to be a wild card on matters of “chill out music”. This week, we debated Mac’s new video for the new mini-LP’s title track and his VHS-quality charm (or lack thereof).
#5 – “Another One” by Mac Demarco
Dad: I can’t get back those two minutes and fifty nine seconds, you bastard.
Tim: What?!
Dad: You did this on purpose, right?
Tim: No! I thought you might actually lik—
Dad: That, that, that video! C’mon, that video is scary.
Tim: [laughs] I mean, that’s just wacky Macky. Let’s focus on the song first though; I thought you might like his songs actually.
Dad: Well, it wasn’t very… melody. I listened to it three times actually. The other song you sent me [“Let Her Go”] was palatable a little bit. But this song here, the start was just so off and…and, watching him in that mask grabbing his crotch? What the hell was that?!
Tim: We’re talking about the song, Dad!
Dad: Still, what the hell?!
Tim: Well, Mac Demarco, he’s kind of like this charming, weirdo slacker, like a mellower—
Dad: It put me to fuckin’ sleep over here! Oh my gosh.
Tim: [laughs] I guess the charm wasn’t felt on your end.
Dad: This song, to me, was so simple, it was like a paint-by-numbers song, y’know? Hit this key, hit that key, hit this key. It was, I dunno, not a very deep song for me.
Tim: I dunno, I don’t think Mac’s around to be too deep. He’s like Sunday afternoon, “drinking with the buddies at a cookout” kind of music.
Dad: You know who he sounded like? I think I got some of his songs, but you should listen to some John Lennon songs. Oh my god, it’s so John Lennon.
Tim: His voice is super Lennon-esque. I didn’t know you liked him.
Dad: Nah, I don’t. Do not. And I don’t like this guy either.
Tim: I’m so looking forward to the deeply hateful fan mail we get this week. I mean, I didn’t really grow up with the Beatles, so it’s not a huge surprise, but…
Dad: Just put a disclaimer: your dad does not like John Lennon solo. The Beatles were pop. When John Lennon went off, he went into drugs and his music got really warped. And Yoko Ono [influenced him with] whatever weird stuff she was doing and it was even more warped. But you played this song on purpose to get a rise out of me, I swear…I’m gonna pull it up again.
Tim: No! I actually thought it might appeal to you in some weird way. Mac is just such a likable songwriter; I felt he was, like, one of the safest picks I could’ve made.
Dad: [watching the video] He really can’t dance for shit! Which is weird with his infatuation for Michael Jackson.
Tim: I think that’s just part of his ironic shirt aesthetic or whatever.
Dad: Yeah, well, he’s really ripping Lennon’s thing. Y’know, he’s using the reverb and he’s got that really, “I’m so stoned right now, I can barely s-iiiii-ng” voice. I just wanna tip him over into the freakin’ water.
Dad: Oh, and what’s he got there? A pot plant, a porcelain dog, and the baby from The Simpsons? And now he’s in the water with his guitar and the mask and wig?! Doesn’t he scare you a little, Tim?
Tim: [laughs] He’s just being goofy. Like, this reminds me of public access television stuff you find late at night, so it’s funny in its weirdness.
Dad: No. It’s like a bad dream and I just want to wake up.
Tim: Alright then, please enlighten me on good, chill out, kind of easy going music like this.
Dad: You’re gonna hate it, but I’m into country now, so Kenny Chesney is pretty laid back. Jimmy Buffett, Steely Dan, they’re also pretty laid back.
Tim: I don’t think Kenny Chesney has anything on Mac in terms of dancing to be honest.
Dad: [laughs] Yeah, whatever. Like I said before, Buffett’s a good chill out. I like a lot of Dire Straits too. But mellow music that’s strange? Uh…oh my god, what’s the name of that band that did The Wall? Oh, Pink Floyd! Yeah, give some Pink Floyd a shot, they’re pretty good.
Tim: I know some Pink Floyd. I remember you not letting me watch the [Pink Floyd – The Wall] movie when I was like, five years old.
Dad: Oh yeah, because that movie was sick. I just started playing this other Mac song though, “Salad Days”? I’m already singing along to it because it’s so damn predictable. “La lala la la, la lala la la…”
Tim: Ugh, is there anything positive you can pull from this?
Dad: [long pause] Uh…he’s different.
Tim: [laughs] Hey, that’s something! To each their own, man.
Dad: Exactly! That’s why there’s ten horses in a horse race. You pick what you like. I don’t care what people think, only you.
Tim: Aww, you care what I think?
Dad: Yeah, I do. And if you don’t like me, I’m sorry.