Album Review
4 Stars A delightfully lo-fi offering.
Reviewer: Joe Goggins
Released: 22nd August 2025
Label: Mac's Record Label
With his impressive streaming figures and famously laid-back existence, Mac DeMarco could likely afford to take an indefinite break from working. This newfound comfort has allowed him, in recent years, to explore more unconventional projects than usual (notable examples include the instrumental ‘Five Easy Hot Dogs’ and the extensive, 199-track ‘One Wayne G’), as well as giving him the opportunity to step back from a touring lifestyle that, by his own admission, was starting to lead him toward unhealthy patterns. So why come back to traditional albums? Perhaps it’s because he once again has something meaningful to convey: he seemed to be running low on inspiration on his 2019 album, ‘Here Comes the Cowboy’, but with the simply-titled ‘Guitar’, he has found his lyrical strength again. Beneath his class clown exterior, he has always showcased surprising depth, and here he explores themes of regret (‘Phantom’), mortality (‘Terror’), and - perhaps most poignantly - the stark contrast between his past and present life (‘Home’). As the title implies, the stripped-down musical arrangement emphasizes melodic, often acoustic guitar lines. If there is an unexpected element in this delightfully lo-fi release, it’s the higher vocal tone he adopts for most of these songs - which may alienate fans of his earlier, catchier work from the ‘Salad Days’ era. Nevertheless, Mac is back - and this time it feels genuine.
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A wonderfully low-fidelity release.