2012 debut from this much-hyped NY native, probably one of the most-talked about records of the last couple years. Much is made of the reinvention of plain old Lizzy Grant into the torch-singer-for-the-Youtubers LANA DEL REY, but we will ignore the hype and try to describe the music. Heavily orchestrated west coast pop with hints of drugged-out beats, like a NANCY SINATRA on opium, or MAZZY STAR with more references to Grand Theft Auto. Ignore those tweets, and take a listen - you might find a beautiful record full of retro vibe and lush pop tunes.

Underground punk outfit DELTA 5 was only active for a short time during the late 70s and early 80s, but it was an era of cross-pollination between the worlds of punk, disco and the burgeoning new world of hip-hop. Kill Rock Stars issues a collection of their singles for the first time on LP, showcasing their bass heavy funk-punk sound (a la fellow Lioners GANG OF FOUR) and their feminist politics like AU PAIRS and X-RAY SPEX. ESSENTIAL and RECOMMENDED!

The Mac is back!! "Another One" definitely seems like one of those "this should hold you over until the album" EPs but it's definitely not a throwaway record or anything like that. The vibe is mostly mellow with the title track reminding us a little of a late 70's John Lennon track & some of it sounds like a slacker version of STEELY DAN or something. There's no doubt that all you Mac maniacs will love this.

Highly anticipated 2014 album from MAC DEMARCO is jangle-pop mastery. DEMARCO's low-key vocal delivery is part of what sets him apart, but it's the perfectly simple songwriting that's key. You can hear some of his (likely) influences: NILSSON, JOHN LENNON, JONATHAN RICHMAN. A must-have! On Captured Tracks.

On Mac Demarco's "2"nd album, there is more of what "Rock and Roll Night Club" brought to the table but also with good-natured, sensitivity here. Don't worry Mac and his merry men still distort and sully traditional rock-pop with a blanket of cigarette smoke and queezy guitar tones. Songs like "Ode To Viceroy" or "My Kind of Women" manage to be love songs but as with "Viceroy," it's a love song to a smokers solitary moments with there favorite brand of tabacco. As much as Demarco and his band like to clown around, "2" is more mature and is teeming with evidence of the music to come. File this under the "Under the Radar" catagory next to Matthew E. White's recent tour de force and near your Ween and Ariel Pink albums.

Mac DeMarco, formerly Makeout Videotape, is the anti-thesis to your stereotypical singer-songwriter. His new label, Captured Tracks says, "DeMarco's a weird cat cultivating an affinity for occult imagery, nudity and social satire." With the hair brained antics of Captain Beefheart, the lo-fi recording techniques of say Ariel Pink, the underlying depression of Skip Spence and the classic coolness of Elvis (only if he was a twink... can we say that?) this album has made a bee-line to our gender-bending loving hearts. R E C O M M E N D E D. -- CD versions of "Rock and Roll Night Club" contains two exclusive tracks not on vinyl versions.

Mac DeMarco, formerly Makeout Videotape, is the anti-thesis to your stereotypical singer-songwriter. His new label, Captured Tracks says, "DeMarco's a weird cat cultivating an affinity for occult imagery, nudity and social satire." With the hair brained antics of Captain Beefheart, the lo-fi recording techniques of say Ariel Pink, the underlying depression of Skip Spence and the classic coolness of Elvis (only if he was a twink... can we say that?) this album has made a bee-line to our gender-bending loving hearts. R E C O M M E N D E D.