Canadian Love

Even though one-man driven, lo-fi, fuzzy pop outfits may seem "soooo 2009," there's something about Alberta's Makeout Videotape that seems to set them apart from the Wavveses of the world.

Makeout Videotape - Heat Wave from Ryan D. Anderson on Vimeo.

Makeout Videotape is comprised of only two people: Mac DeMarco, the nineteen year old songwriter/guitarist/vocalist, and a standup drummer who pounds away to compliment the driving rhythms of DeMarco's melodies. Somehow, with just these two people, Makeout Videotape makes more noise, and has a fuller sound than, most similar projects. The guitar is driven and poppy while the vocals are almost shockingly deep and soulful for a fresh-faced nineteen year old boy.
Part of the charm of this band is that despite the lo-fi buzz, the substance of the songs is super rich. DeMarco seems to clearly be a student of 60s pop and it comes through in the catchy, yet not simple, melodies. He wrote to me, "a couple guys I'm really really into include, Jonathan Richman, Arthur Russell, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, all mostly poppy music I guess, I'm always trying to make songs like theirs but they never end up sounding that way hahaha." I was utterly charmed, and I hope you will be too.
You can download their debut ep, Heat Wave, from Unfamiliar Records, and they have a 7-inch coming out in February.
Enjoy these two lovely mp3s from Heat Wave:
Makeout Videotape - Slush Puppy Love
Makeout Videotape - Basketball Kids

Comments

[sid]

Sadly, the link to download requires a password to enter. But thanks for the 2 songs! Great tunes!!

[Shane]

The music is cool as hell, but the video just doesn't cut it. Now this, on the other hand is an amazing, bad ass vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR3xuwjqXng

[Greg]

For a free download of the full release, email: [email protected] with the subject "Makeout Videotape Heat Wave EP" and you'll receive the password.

[Don Buddin]

Horrible in all aspects. Popjew's posts are very consistent.

[Nat]

Bro, you really need to check out R. Stevie Moore!

WFMU DJ for decades and inventor of bedroom jamz...

One of my favorite musicians...of ALL TIME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyUMaBcLIOY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8oEwxFnjB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNdU7e_T8JM

He has like 250 music videos on youtube and about as many albums out toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, worth obsessing about.

Like Makeout Videotape songs a lot too.

[Don Buddin]

If your comment is directed at me, I bought Phongoraphy when it came out 30+ years ago and have been paying attention to RSM ever since. It's hit and miss, but when he's good he's good. And doing his own thing.

Are you comparing him to Makeout? If so, your comparison--as far as I can see/hear--is baseless.

Next year, RSM will still be around doing his thing and Makeout will be back to being baristas.

Finally I have no problem w/ more Beware of the Blog posts about R. Stevie Moore and his ilk (like it used to be) and less of popjew's lame, indy rock careerist jams.

If The Makeout, etc. is Beware's stab at the coveted "youth market," bad job.

[Nat]

Don, my comment was not directed toward you.

Please stop being negative, or at least keep it to yourself.

And the comparison does have a basis.

[Don Buddin]

Here's a heads up for you Nat: If you tell someone "keep it to yourself" you are endeavoring to NEGATE them and thereby being negative your own self. Just FYI.

[Don Butt-in]

Holy cow don, you're a fucking butthead! hahahahahaha

[Natalie Gitt]

Omg the blond guy looks so gay!!!@#!