Five Easy Hot Dogs
by Mac DeMarco
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
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  1. Uncut
    Feb 15, 2023
    60
    Despite the scattered and itinerant nature of the process, there's a pleasing coherence and warmth to the record. [Apr 2023, p.26]
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  2. Clash Music
    Jan 23, 2023
    60
    ‘Five Easy Hot Dogs’ isn’t going to win DeMarco any more fans, nor will it distract from his past triumphs. ... This instrumental offering will, like most of his tunes, act as great company for those who just wanna lay back and disconnect from it all.
  3. The Telegraph (UK)
    Jan 20, 2023
    60
    Whilst it is purposefully lacking in intention, the experimental album has its moments of whimsy but feels noticeably devoid of humour, surprising for a musician known for his zaniness. Still a cohesive affair, it’s an apt depiction of transience and Mac DeMarco is taking us all along for the ride.
  5. Pitchfork
    Jan 20, 2023
    60
    Though each track is named for where it was recorded, there’s not much to distinguish one stop from another, and though you could connect the locations into a journey, these tracks don’t form an arc but play as if stacked atop one another.
  6. AllMusic
    Jan 19, 2023
    60
    This release is probably more for Mac DeMarco super fans than casual listeners, as there's nothing resembling the happy-go-lucky hooks of his best-loved songs, just the incidental sounds collected on a slow, aimless wander.
  7. PopMatters
    Jan 19, 2023
    60
    Each instrumental, named after its place of origin, floats by languorously and begins to blur together into a gentle, placid paste not even three songs in. Each track is gorgeous, but they’re all also immeasurably passive, with only a few key differences between each to make them separate entities.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best Album of 2023
19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2023

User Reviews

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User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 4 out of 14
  1. ArthurFriedenre
    Jan 23, 2023
    0
    Mac Demarco is a gifted song writer.
    Now here are 14 instrumentals made on a long and spontaneous solo road trip.
    Though each track is named    Mac Demarco is a gifted song writer.
    Now here are 14 instrumentals made on a long and spontaneous solo road trip.
    Though each track is named for where it was recorded, there’s not any connection to the location, it's all nice but just boring.
    The instrumentals are utterly uninspired, so skip this album if you want to listen to something interesting.
    I will continue to love Mac DeMarco in spite of this crappy album which he should have kept for himself.    … Full Review »
  2. Haldane
    Jan 20, 2023
    4
    I was quite the fan of Mac's last work (Here Come the Cowboy) with its underproduced-overproduced balance, however even as background musicI was quite the fan of Mac's last work (Here Come the Cowboy) with its underproduced-overproduced balance, however even as background music this album is pretty boring and some songs left me waiting for the album to be finished so I could move on. I understand the rudimentary nature of the recordings but most of the songs sound like watered-down versions of the last album, which itself felt watered-down. For example, the synth in "Gualala" sounds similar to the one on "Nobody", but in the case of Nobody it fit and yet in Gualala its like a fly you want to shoo away. I like this style of music, but I don't like this version.… Full Review »
  3. Djlikesmusic
    Mar 22, 2023
    6
    While I can see what Mac was trying to achieve here continuing in the direction that Here Comes the Cowboy was doing, it was somewhatWhile I can see what Mac was trying to achieve here continuing in the direction that Here Comes the Cowboy was doing, it was somewhat underwhelming as nothing really stood out. Despite that, Five Easy Hot Dogs does create a more luscious and easygoing atmosphere that fills in for the absence of vocals. It’s still a nice listen though but leaves you wishing there was more to it.… Full Review »
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