Brian Wilson, one of the three Wilson brothers who were in the group (alongside cousin Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston) was the main creative force in the group. Their ability to write vocal melodies and arrange vocal harmonies was unmatched, as evidenced on early songs like “Don’t Worry Baby”. But even pre- Pet Sounds, their talent, not just in performance but in songwriting, was impressive. Their early material was never intended to be more than simple, fun and infectious, and they were arguably to some extent a “manufactured” group. At this point, The Beach Boys were known for their own trademark style of surf pop, and their pitch-perfect vocal harmonies. Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys was released in 1966, to underwhelming sales and recognition. This album went largely unnoticed at the time of its release, but has since then woven itself into the fabric of popular music.
This series starts with a true classic, not just in my own humble opinion but in the opinion of a multitude of music fans, journalists, and musicians. Hopefully this series will also persuade other people to take a listen to these albums, and perhaps reading this series will lead you to discover some of your own future favourites! This post turned out to be very long, as there is a lot to say about this album, but the others in this series will vary in length. In this series I will attempt to discover just what it is about these albums that appeals so much to me and sets them apart from others in my collection. In all, This Old Dog is a logical continuation of DeMarco's musical explorations, but the maturation of his songwriting is what gives it gravitas.This is the first in my Author’s Picks series, where I’ll be writing about my very favourite albums. As heavy as some of the moods are, though, it's tough to diminish that sly twinkle that generally adorns DeMarco's delivery and he can't help but cloak his newfound confessionalism in some sunny West Coast grooves, particularly on songs like "Baby You're Out" and "A Wolf Who Wears Sheep's Clothes." "For the First Time" and "On the Level," a pair of woozy keyboard-heavy ballads, feel like an outgrowth of Another One's love song experiment and likely have their roots in those same sessions.
A similarly spare, though less maudlin mid-album track is also dedicated to his sister. DeMarco's father makes further appearances in these songs, most arrestingly on the spare and somber closer, "Watching Him Fade Away," which is easily one of the album's highlights. Confronting his own prankster public persona on the acoustic guitar and drum machine meditation "My Old Man," he sings "there's a price tag hanging off of having all that fun," setting up the self-realization of how quickly we come to resemble our own parents. Newer to DeMarco's world are the inward self-reflections and thoughtful musings on family, friends, and love that are scattered throughout This Old Dog.
The heavily chorused guitar riffs, laid-back drum grooves, and off-kilter soft rock transmutations from his first two LPs mesh with the wobbly synth textures that came to the fore on 2015's excellent mini-album, Another One. More lyrically introspective than previous DeMarco releases, the hallmarks of his now-signature sound are all still here, albeit with subtle shifts in emphasis.
Following a move to California and a breather from several years of near-constant touring, indie hero Mac DeMarco emerges with This Old Dog, his third full-length and proper follow-up to 2014's breakout LP Salad Days.