Salad Days – Mac DeMarco

Salad Days (2014) captures Mac DeMarco at his most effortless and introspective, refining the jangly, lo-fi charm of his earlier work into something more mature and reflective. Written and recorded largely in his Brooklyn apartment, the album pairs breezy melodies with lyrics about burnout, growing older, and learning to slow down. The result is deceptively laid-back — a record that feels sun-bleached and carefree on the surface but carries an undercurrent of weariness and self-awareness. Tracks like “Blue Boy,” “Let Her Go,” and “Passing Out Pieces” showcase DeMarco’s knack for warmth and wit amid existential rumination. The album’s intimate production and woozy guitars give it an instantly recognizable sound that’s become a touchstone for indie rock in the 2010s. “Chamber of Reflection,” built on vintage synths and a hypnotic pulse, remains one of DeMarco’s most iconic tracks, while the title song captures the bittersweet tone of the whole record. Salad Days endures as a portrait of an artist maturing in real time — equal parts charming, melancholy, and sincere.

Reviews

“A wistful, beautiful record that manages to make growing up sound like the most natural thing in the world.” – NME

“DeMarco’s woozy, chorus-soaked guitar pop has rarely sounded more effortless or affecting.” – Pitchfork

“A subtle masterpiece of understatement and charm.” – The Guardian