Mac DeMarco goes the extra mile by releasing ‘Here Comes The Cowboy’ demos over a year after the albums release. (Photo provided via @royalmtn on Twitter)
Landslidefleetwood mac. 08.30.20 / 10:46 pm
Mac is going to be playing some tunes, new and old, on Kerwin Frost’s Telethon on Sunday 8/16. All proceeds go to KYRC (Know Your Rights Camp), and you can donate now before the show begins! Stream begins at 9 am PST on YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch. These recordings give an intimate view into the world of Mac DeMarco, taking listeners back to the roots of Mac’s writing and recording straight from his own bedroom ‘Jizz-Jazz’ studios. Old Dog Demos, a 15-song LP that is divided into Demos on Side A and Instrumentals on Side B, is a truly special release. Mac DeMarco’s second album, 2, cleaned up the songwriter’s warped take on soft rock and brought it to a broader audience.Given DeMarco’s affinity for keeping things lo-fi—2 was the first time he’d bothered to record demos—it’s revealing to hear these songs in their most embryonic form.
Clover mini and precision tune auto care. When Mac DeMarco released Here Comes the Cowboy in May of 2019, he received an overall positive response. His sixth full-length studio album brought that breezy, relaxed sound with a quiet and reflective theme that his fans know and love from other works of his such as Salad Days.
As is tradition, DeMarco went the extra mile to release the Here Comes the Cowboy demos. A lot of the time, his demos are in and of themselves fantastic and rival the studio album sound. In honor of the release of his latest demo album, I’m going through the whole album and deciding which sounds better: the demo or the studio album.
Overall the demos for the album are better than the actual studio album, bringing a more personal and enjoyable sound to DeMarco’s already tremendous album. Here is every song on Here Comes the Cowboy and which version audiences should binge-listen to:
- “Here Comes the Cowboy” - Demo
The album’s title track is simple, yet effective. The entirety of the lyricism includes DeMarco saying “here comes the cowboy” over and over, with a unique guitar pattern backing him. It’s one of the worst on the album (and I say that lightly, as it’s still an incredible track), but the demo makes it much more enjoyable by bringing a backyard acoustic feel to it.
- “Nobody” - Demo
Another relaxing and simplistic track brings some of DeMarco’s most interesting lyricism. The demo version wins out because of the funky marking sound on each beat that makes it more groovy than snoozy.
- “Finally Alone” - Studio
This is a rare win for the studio album, but it’s much deserved. “Finally Alone” is a brilliantly introspective track, but the demo version distracts from the lyricism by bringing an elevator music feeling to it that’s almost unsettling. The studio album version is much more put together and well done.
- “Little Dogs March” - Tie
It’s impossible to deem a winner for this track, so I chose a tie. Both are almost identical to each other, so it’s unfair to choose a winner. They both are immaculate as is, either way.
- “Preoccupied” - Demo
The demo of “Preoccupied” brings another one of those backyard acoustic type of vibes, as opposed to the studio album, which listens as more of a lullaby. Both are unique in their own way, but the demo version is more of an enjoyable listen.
- “Choo Choo” - Demo
Though “Choo Choo” is a hilarious addition to this studio album, it’s definitely one that could be skipped. You have to be in a certain mood to enjoy it. The same can’t be said for the demo version, that, when my roommates heard it for the first time, described it as “a total vibe.” The raw vocals mixed with the absolute funkified R&B instrumentation is incredible.
- “K” - Demo
“K” is undoubtedly the most romantic song, which he wrote specifically for his girlfriend, Kiera. The studio album brought tears to my eyes, and the demo version is no different. The only reason the demo wins out is because it’s a more raw cut, and you can better hear DeMarco’s emotion while singing about the love of his life. It’s truly beautiful, and would make even the most heartless believe in true love.
- “Heart to Heart” - Demo
The demo of “Heart to Heart” relies more on a heavy synthesizer and a faster pace, as opposed to the studio album which slows down the pace and dulls out the synthesizer. This results in the studio album version sounding too similar to some of his other tracks, whereas the demo shows more distinction.
- “Hey Cowgirl” - Studio
“Hey Cowgirl” is another rare win for the studio album. Though both tracks are very similar, like “Little Dogs March,” the studio album version of “Hey Cowgirl” just has a better mix of the instrumentation and vocals that makes it more professional to listen to (obviously, since it’s the studio version rather than a demo).
- “On the Square” - Demo
This blues-y track is brilliantly done, especially in regards to instrumentation. However, the key change to the studio album is what secured the win for the demo, as the demo has a much more dreamy and laid-back style. The studio version is a bit harsher and loses the vibe that I feel DeMarco was going for with the track.
- “All of Our Yesterdays” - Tie
Though I frown upon ties, this is another one that was too tough to choose between. I love DeMarco’s count in on the demo version, and I love the obvious better quality on the studio album version, but both are too close sounding to choose a winner. Both give off the same energy and (almost) the same sound.
- “Skyless Moon” - Demo
My least favorite song on the album is “Skyless Moon,” so I already wasn’t expecting much from the demo version. However, the demo put less of an emphasis on the dissonant chords that cause such an unsettling feeling. There’s also much more of an emphasis on DeMarco’s vocals, which are wonderful on this track.
Mac Demarco Demos
- “Baby Bye Bye” and “The Cattleman’s Prayer” - Demo
The demo track of this is just, everything. It’s quite similar sounding to the studio album, but like “Preoccupied,” the studio version sounds much more like a lullaby, while the demo version stays consistent with the western, cowboy sounding theme. The demo also splits up “Baby Bye Bye” and “The Cattleman’s Prayer,” as opposed to the studio version which combines the two. The studio version of “The Cattleman’s Prayer” is also much more aggressive than the soft flowing “yeehaw baby” version we get from the demo.
More from The Post:
Mac DeMarco’s return to goofiness: ‘Old Dog Demos’
| Tuesday, October 2, 2018
As with many indie rock artists, you can run into some pretty intense contrasts with Mac DeMarco. His debut album, “Rock and Roll Night Club” shows off his bizarre ability to not take anything seriously. A radio DJ with a very warped voice named Dojo Dan leads you through the album — from the nonsensical lyrics of “Baby’s Wearing Blue Jeans,” to the stumbling, half-asleep riffs of “She’s Really All I Need.” It’s an album that doesn’t try to care too much. But regardless of this lack of effort, Mac DeMarco’s debut is an exceptional album.
Since then, however, Mac has gradually evolved from the careless partying degenerate of his past to the hopeless romantic that is present in his latest album, “This Old Dog.”
Since Mac’s newly released “Old Dog Demos” is a re-hashing of “This Old Dog,” however, a proper understanding of “This Old Dog” is necessary to understand his demos.
It’s an album that steps away from the warped psychedelia of his earlier recordings, and the music on it takes on a much more heartbroken tone. It’s a precise and bright display of sincere songwriting — something not common in Mac’s catalogue.
“This Old Dog” is terribly sad. Mac’s lyrics are introspective, both examining the flaws of his past and his, at times, inability to love. The album presents a matured Mac DeMarco, lyrically profound and able. The album is an incredibly respectable, somber piece, and, with it, it seems the all-loving buffoon we enjoyed so thoroughly in his past has moved on with the album.
Luckily, Mac’s most recent release of “Old Dog Demos” gives hope. In this 43-minute album, Mac throws together several unreleased studio gems written during the “This Old Dog” recordings. The theme of heartbreak and lyrical proficiency present in “This Old Dog” bleed into “Old Dog Demos,” but not in an overbearing manner.
On the opening track, “Is It Boy,” Mac presents nostalgic lyrics of advice: “When the old man gets to see it / He’ll be whistling / All his worries away / And I know just how you see them / Keep believin’ / That you’ll find your foot someday.” There are definitely depressed undertones in these lyrics, but the album is much less introspective — a theme very present on, arguably, Mac’s most well-respected album, “Salad Days.” Mac tools et9620a scanner user manual user.
The first seven tracks are like this. Yes, they are sad, but they certainly do not take themselves too seriously. However, the remaining eight tracks step away entirely from the underlying motifs, and return to the goofy, synth-heavy tracks that made Mac DeMarco famous.
The strongest track on the album is an instrumental cover of the track “One More Love Song” from the album “This Old Dog.” Rather than singing about the flaws of love, Mac takes some time to let the music speak. The pitch is toned down from its original version, and the whole song is slower and more wavy. He uses his voice as an instrument, not by singing actual words but only las, bums and los.
The greatest examples of the return of Mac to his antics on this demo include tracks titled “Jimsy,” “Sheeta,” “Umaro,” “Lady Eboshi” and “Master Yupa.” Indicated by the titles of these songs, and Mac’s latest single release — a cover of “Honey Moon” by Haruomi Hosono — he has a newfound love for Japanese culture. Sheeta, Lady Eboshi and Master Yupa are characters from Studio Ghibli movies, while Umaro is a character in Final Fantasy and Jimsy is a character from a Nippon film.
Mac Demarco Demos Vinyl
Each of these songs and many other tracks on the demo have very psychedelic vibes, and coax the return of musically inclined goofball Mac DeMarco.
Shamrocks: 4/5
Label: Captured Track Records
Favorite Track: “One More Love Song”
If you Like: Ariel Pink, King Krule, Unknown Mortal Orchestra