With seven albums already under Mac Demarco’s belt, “Five Easy Hot Dogs” doesn’t disappoint.  This project was released Jan. 20 and is different from other projects Mac has done in the past, being a fully instrumental album. This project really shows how far Mac has come in his musical journey, with tracks like “Gualala,” “Crescent City” and “Rockaway” really detailing his growth from previous projects. But this album is not without faults, with some of the beats coming off as janky or just not having much to offer- like “Portland I” and “Vitoria” sounding like boring background music.

Mac Demarco recorded “Five Easy Hotdogs” over the length of a road trip across North America. Each song in the album is named after the location it was recorded in. The album begins with the song “Gualala,” named after a coastal town in mid-northern California. The track starts off with the familiar voice of Mac Demarco counting the song in with, “one, two, three, four,” and we are quickly presented with a sweet sounding acoustic guitar lick accompanied by a simple yet effective beat from a vintage Roland drum machine. Supporting the melody is a dry baseline that only occasionally strays from the root note of the guitar melody, leaving space for the final ingredient of the song, a dry synth playing a melancholic pattern of notes throughout the verse section. During the chorus, the synth switches dominant roles with the acoustic guitar and leads a pattern of descending notes that evoke a bittersweet feeling in the listener; and on my first listen to the album, it forced me to smile as I layed back into the melody. “Gualala 2,” the second track in the album, has a very similar structure to its sibling, using a mix of acoustic guitar (this time an arpeggio), a bass guitar and the same synth setting as before. Some notable differences are that the drum machine is swapped out for what sounds like a pair of bongos, and the overall melody has a dark and mysterious tone, contrasting the more uplifting feel of the song’s predecessor. Overall, Gualala one and two represent a great chunk of the vibe that will be felt throughout the rest of the album. 

On the other hand, “Portland I” isn’t a memorable listen. It starts off as a simple clam melody, but it feels like there is something missing in it. Up until the halfway point, there isn’t much to be desired. But after the halfway point, when Mac tries to add something, it just doesn’t fit well with the beat. Although this funky beat would go well with other tracks, on this song, it just doesn’t match well with the calming and smooth intro to this track.  

A small drum set is added into the mix as Mac visits Crescent City, and is featured throughout the remainder of the album, only taking breaks on a few tracks. Despite this, the overall feel of the songs feel very similar as Demarco makes his way through Portland Oregon for two tracks, “Victoria British Columbia” for one track, and recording in Vancouver British Columbia for the first time since his breakout project “Makeout Videotape” about 14 years prior. After this, Demarco visits his childhood bedroom in Edmonton, Alberta for two of some of my favorite songs on the album. The first of the two has a tight drum groove with a snappy snare drum and a vast array of percussion instruments. All of this rhythm is supported by a guitar arpeggio and yet again another simple bass and synth line. “Edmonton 2” shares almost all the same instruments as its former counterpart while providing one of the most relaxing melodies on the album that made me want to cruise around town in my car. 

Later in the album when Mac visits Edmonton, he makes two tracks, “Edmonton I” and “Edmonton II.”  The first is a great song, but on the other hand, “Edmonton II” doesn’t have much to offer, and it feels like a demo or rough draft of “Edmonton I.”  “Edmonton I” on its own is a good song that has somewhat of a triumphant, upbeat tone, but “Edmonton II” feels like its predecessor, but more laid back. With most of the same instrumentals as “Edmonton I,” this track feels like a poor continuation instead of trying to build off the previous work. Other than these critiques, the Edmonton songs are pretty good.  

Mac Demarco reached his final recording destination in Rockaway, New York- the location where he lived for the recording of his classic 2015 album “Another One.” “Rockaway” is, in my opinion, the best track on the album, rivaled closely by the opening track. The guitar melody is extremely catchy and is matched perfectly with an addictive synth pattern and bass line. A drum groove layered in a pair of bongos fits perfectly under the melody of the song creating one of the most relaxing songs in Demarco’s entire discography. It is safe to say Demarco saved his best tracks for his opening and closing titles. 

To the average listener, “Five Easy Hotdogs” may seem like a boring listen at first listen, or simply labeled as background music. But after the second or third listen, you will know that it’s more than what meets the eye. Other than a few slow songs, this album is really good and underrated. If you’re looking for something to listen to as background music or just to chill out, this would make a great listen.

“Five Easy Hot Dogs:” ★★★★☆