Mac DeMarco: Guitar [Album Review]

Mac DeMarco
Guitar
Mac’s Record Label [2025]

“DeMarco pares it back to the bone—simple songs, no filler, and just enough charm to keep you floating.”

Album Overview: Mac DeMarco has built his career on sidestepping major-label polish in favor of his own offbeat, DIY charm. Since 2 and Salad Days, he’s carved out a cult following with his laid-back delivery and wonky but heartfelt songwriting. After detouring into instrumental records, he’s back in familiar territory with Guitar—his sixth studio album and first vocal-driven release since 2019’s Here Comes the Cowboy.

Recorded solo at his Los Angeles home over twelve days in November 2024, the album later made its way to Canada for mixing before David Ives handled mastering. DeMarco initially toyed with a project called Hear the Music before scrapping it and starting fresh. The result is a 12-song collection split evenly across two sides. True to its title, Guitar keeps things simple: breezy, sea-floating vibes, compact songs, and that unmistakable Mac ease. It’s mellow, focused, and rewarding on repeat spins—even if it doesn’t always hit with the old spark.

Musical Style: As the name hints, Guitar is all about stripped-down arrangements. DeMarco leans on jangly riffs, light percussion, and just enough layering to keep things from drifting away. Most tracks clock in under three minutes, putting melody and vibe ahead of polish. The homespun production keeps the spotlight squarely on his voice and guitar interplay.

Evolution of Sound: After the sprawling, 199-track experiment of One Wayne G, Guitar feels like a reset. Gone are the endless detours and synth daydreams—instead, we get concise sketches that prize clarity over excess. It’s Mac distilling his songwriting to the bare essentials, proving that sometimes growth means knowing when to pull back.

Artists with Similar Fire: If Jonathan Richman’s eccentric warmth, Alex G’s bedroom intimacy, or Kurt Vile’s loose charm speak to you, Guitar will feel like a kindred record. There’s also a faint Bill Callahan undercurrent here, though filtered through DeMarco’s trademark wink.

Pivotal Tracks: “Home” anchors the album with mantra-like simplicity, while “Holy” balances reflection with hooks that linger. Opener “Shining” and the side-one closer “Rock and Roll” inject just enough momentum to keep the first half from floating away. On the flip, “Nightmare” and “Terror” tilt darker, adding tension and contrast to the otherwise relaxed surface.

Lyrical Strength: DeMarco’s words here read like snapshots from a journal—unvarnished, immediate, and grounded in everyday details. There’s no grand statement, just a plainspoken honesty that makes the songs feel lived-in. The delivery is casual but intimate, almost like a friend letting you in on their late-night thoughts.

Final Groove: Guitar lands as a modest but satisfying return to form, one that feels intentionally small after his last few instrumental records. It’s easy to enjoy, easy to replay, and full of the off-kilter charm that keeps Mac DeMarco in his own lane. Still, a little more variety in tempo or texture might’ve brought back that old Mac magic. Guitar is a steady reminder that sometimes simplicity works—but here’s hoping his next chapter leans just a bit wilder.

MAC DEMARCO REVIEW HISTORY
This Old Dog (2017) / Another One (2015) / Salad Days (2014)

MAC DEMARCO LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | Mac’s Record Label