pop rock

mac-demarco

Everyone’s favorite goof slash secret sentimentalist, Mac DeMarco has announced his new album, This Old Dog, the follow-up to his 2015 mini-LP Another One. Written just before DeMarco relocated from Queens to LA, the latest effort marks a new, more polished direction for the Canadian singer-songwriter, who allowed the tracks to simmer before releasing.

In a press release he acknowledges as much: “I demoed a full album, and as I was moving to the West Coast I thought I’d get to finishing it quickly. But then I realized that moving to a new city, and starting a new life takes time. Usually I just write, record, and put it out; no problem. But this time, I wrote them and they sat. When that happens, you really get to know the songs. This is a different vibe.”

Recorded with acoustic guitar and synthesizers, the album has a definite more ripened sound. Continuing the statement, he says “this is a new thing for me. This is my acoustic album, but it’s not really an acoustic album at all. That’s just what it feels like, mostly. I’m Italian, so I guess this is an Italian rock record.” Look out for the album to release May 5 on Captured Tracks and listen to the title track below.

Indulging on a steady diet of ABBA during the genesis of their new EP, Houston-based band JERK generate dark, danceable pop songs as illustrated on their self-titled debut. JERK is comprised of group mastermind and multi-instrumentalist Austin Smith along with drummer Zach Alderman and keyboardist/vocalist Vicki Lynn. Speaking on the EP, Smith states: “I originally wanted to make slow disco songs. I’d been a layer-heavy songwriter in the past and I wanted to experiment with limitation. Before, I’d use anything at my disposal to fill maximum room in a song, so for JERK I worked inside a set of rules where I couldn’t do that, which forced some inventive creativity on my end.” The result is a minimalist take on dance rock replete with eerie synthesizer swells, trippy guitar lines and mildly menacing vocals.

It’s a solid debut so don’t be a jerk — stream lead single “Accidents” below.