2 (New LP)

Mac DeMarco’s debut full-length album, 2, released in 2012 andbrought the songwriter’s warped take on soft rock to a significantlybroader audience.The record is a concerted effort to produce a cohesive work thatshowcases Mac’s natural ability as a songwriter, singer and producer. Having just acquired a new arsenal of recording gear followingthe release of Rock And Roll Night Club, the fidelity of 2 substantially improved without compromising the immediacy and organicquality of his prior releases under any monicker.It’s revealing to hear these songs in their most embryonic form on 2Demos, given DeMarco’s affinity for keeping things lo-fi (2 was thefirst time he’d even bothered to record demos). The performanceshere are a little looser and the sound a little hazier than on the official LP, lending an atmosphere of dreamy vulnerability, especiallyto ballads like “”Annie”” and the Lennon-esque “”Sherrill.