This Old Dog (2017) - Mac Demarco

Tracklist:

1. My Old Man – 3:42  

2. This Old Dog – 2:31  

3. Baby You're Out – 2:38  

4. For the First Time – 3:02  

5. One Another – 2:47  

6. Still Beating – 3:00  

7. Sister – 1:18  

8. Dreams from Yesterday – 3:27  

9. A Wolf Who Wears Sheeps Clothes – 2:49  

10. One More Love Song – 4:01  

11. On the Level – 3:48  

12. Moonlight on the River – 7:03  

13. Watching Him Fade Away – 2:23  

Album duration: 41:09  

Genres: Indie Rock, Soft Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Lo-Fi  

Lineup:

Mac DeMarco – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Production  

Released in 2017, This Old Dog is Mac DeMarco’s third full-length studio album. It marks a significant shift from his earlier, more playful records, diving into more mature and introspective territory both musically and lyrically. The album retains DeMarco’s signature laid-back, mellow vibe, but incorporates folkier, stripped-down instrumentation, with acoustic guitars and vintage synths taking the forefront. The lo-fi charm that defines DeMarco's style is present, but this time it serves as a vehicle for more contemplative themes, revolving around relationships, change, and the passage of time.

This Old Dog is a meditation on personal and familial relationships, particularly the strained relationship DeMarco shares with his estranged father. Themes of aging, vulnerability, and the acceptance of impermanence are woven throughout the record, making it one of DeMarco’s most personal and reflective works. The production is clean but understated, allowing the lyrics and melodies to take center stage. Despite the heavier themes, the album maintains an air of lightness and warmth, balancing melancholy with DeMarco’s signature sense of humor and whimsy. 

My favorite tracks include My Old Man, Still Beating, On the Level, and Moonlight on the River. The album's opening track, My Old Man, sets the tone with a simple yet poignant exploration of growing older and realizing you might be more like your parents than you'd like to admit. The track is driven by a soft, looping guitar riff and synths that subtly underscore the melancholy lyrics.

Still Beating is a standout with its bittersweet melody and heartfelt lyrics, capturing the fragility of relationships and the desire for reconciliation. The jangly guitar and warm production create a comforting contrast to the song’s more vulnerable message. On the Level features dreamy synths and a smooth groove, dealing with DeMarco’s complicated feelings towards his father with a sense of detachment and acceptance. It’s a track that perfectly captures the balancing act between love and distance.

The album’s longest track, Moonlight on the River, is a haunting, seven-minute piece that drifts through dreamy soundscapes before dissolving into an ambient haze. It’s a fitting representation of the album’s themes of impermanence and letting go, with the lyrics reflecting on loss, time, and the inevitability of moving forward. The track’s spacious production allows it to linger, leaving a lasting impression even after the final note fades away.

The lyrics of This Old Dog are some of DeMarco’s most sincere and straightforward, often touching on themes of family, love, and self-reflection. In My Old Man, DeMarco sings about the inevitability of becoming like his father, expressing a mix of resignation and acceptance. The lyrics “Look in the mirror / Who do you see? / Someone familiar / But surely not me” capture a moment of introspective clarity, highlighting the passage of time and the way relationships shape our identity.

The title track, This Old Dog, is a gentle, acoustic reflection on change and the importance of taking things slow. It’s a song that carries a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, while also acknowledging that change is an inevitable part of life. The lyrics are minimal but impactful, with lines like “Sometimes my love may be put on hold / Sometimes my heart may seem awful cold” conveying a vulnerability that runs throughout the album.

On the Level stands out as a lyrical exploration of complicated emotions toward family, particularly his father. The repetition of lines like “Seems he's got it all figured out / What I do not know” hints at unresolved tensions and the acceptance that some relationships might never reach closure. This sense of emotional distance permeates the album, but it’s always tempered with DeMarco’s warmth and self-deprecating humor.

In Moonlight on the River, DeMarco reflects on the end of a relationship, both metaphorically and literally, with lyrics that evoke the loneliness of saying goodbye to someone you love. The song's meditative quality, combined with its spacious arrangement, creates a sense of timelessness, as if lingering in a moment of transition between the past and the future.

This Old Dog is a testament to Mac DeMarco’s growth as an artist, showcasing his ability to blend humor, melancholy, and introspection into a cohesive and compelling album. It’s an intimate, comforting record that feels like a warm conversation with a friend—one that acknowledges life’s uncertainties but finds beauty in the simplicity of everyday moments.