Mac DeMarco – Guitar
On his latest album, Guitar, newfound peace finds Mac DeMarco at his most content and focused in years
Mac DeMarco's sixth album comes after a collection of languid instrumentals (Five Easy Hot Dogs) and a mass ephemera dump (One Wayne G), making this his first 'proper' record in six years. Guitar reaffirms his commitment to relaxed simplicity that began after rising to fame over a decade ago. Unfussy arrangements and straightforward lyrics speak to the recent peace DeMarco has found after years of playing the jester and partying hard.
His voice sounds a little higher since quitting smoking, Shining opening the album like a lost Neil Young demo. It sets the scene immediately; loose and off the cuff, but with a bittersweetness that comes with hard-won serenity. As the title would suggest, guitar is the primary instrument here, noodling to the point of breakdown on Rock and Roll, twangtastic on Holy, but mostly complementing the lyrics with subtle melodies on tracks like Home and Terror.
There's an intimacy in Mac's close-miked style that brings you into the room with him. But, as on Five Easy Hot Dogs, the narrow sonic palette can blur the songs together. Unvarnished production has a certain charm, but the lack of variation coupled with occasionally platitudinous lyrics can make some songs difficult to grasp once they've finished. Guitar is undoubtedly a pleasant listen and a fine addition to the DeMarco canon, if unlikely to go down as a classic.
Listen to: Home, Shining