2, Mac Demarco, LP

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