LOS ANGELES—Indie rock hero Mac DeMarco recently surprised his fanbase. He decided to bypass modern streaming platforms entirely. Instead, the singer-songwriter quietly dropped a massive wave of new music during his latest tour. Mac DeMarco releases four new albums on physical-only, hand-labeled CD-R discs sold exclusively at his merchandise table.
1. The Sharpie Smell is the Real Artwork
Each disc features DeMarco's own handwriting in black permanent marker. The pungent ink fumes apparently constitute the official album art. "The smell of the marker really enhances the lo-fi tape hiss," said Dr. Helene Vasquez-Thorne, Lead Researcher at the Center for Studies That Confirm What You Already Suspected.
2. Fans Must Hunt Down 2004 Honda Civics
Modern computers no longer feature disc drives. This technical barrier has forced hipster fans to purchase old Japanese sedans just to hear the tracklist. Most buyers do not even own a driver's license. They simply sit in parked cars on Brooklyn streets to listen to the breezy guitar Solos.
3. The Track Titles are Just Grocery Lists
DeMarco did not spend much time naming the songs on these exclusive releases. One entire disc features tracks named after different brands of cigarette lighters. Another album contains an eight-minute acoustic jam titled "Buy More Bananas." Fans already call it his most vulnerable work to date.
4. Scalpers are Selling the Discs for Thousands
As expected, these rare physical items instantly hit the secondary market. Wealthy collectors are paying top dollar for these fragile pieces of plastic. The fact that the discs scratch if you breathe on them only adds to their tragic, fleeting beauty.
5. The Music is Just the Sound of a Ceiling Fan
In a stunning twist, the fourth disc does not actually contain any music. It is a 74-minute mono recording of a squeaky ceiling fan spinning in an empty garage. DeMarco allegedly recorded the audio on a vintage cassette deck from 1983. Dr. Helene Vasquez-Thorne confirmed this is exactly what his audience wanted all along.
6. He Left the Metadata Completely Blank
Because Mac DeMarco releases four new albums on blank CD-Rs, car stereos only display "Track 01" and "Unknown Artist." Music historians worry this will destroy the concept of music scrobbling forever. At press time, DeMarco was spotted buying 500 more blank Memorex discs from an office supply store in suburban Canada.
