MAC DEMARCO STRUMS HEARTSTRINGS ON ‘GUITAR’
The best description for Mac DeMarco's newest album, Guitar, is the lyrics from its opening track, “Shining”, in which he asks, “What more could I want?”. DeMarco’s first lyrical release since 2020’s Other Here Comes The Cowboy Demos, Guitar is a filling album, packed with emotionally-charged, mature songwriting. Before listening to the album, it’s important to know that it was created in only twelve days, as DeMarco chose to scrap his original concept after it was already completed, according to an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. Guitar itself is short and sweet, managing to fit twelve songs into a thirty-one-minute album; however, they’re each uniquely identifiable and satisfying. The instrumentals and vocals of each song are eerily similar -warbly, in classic-DeMarco style- but individually lyrically profound.
Opening the album, “Shining” is about being in a relationship with someone new, but knowing your heart is chained to a past lover. DeMarco croons that his new lover is better off with someone whose head isn’t stuck in the past, and can fully focus on her. It’s mature and sets the tone for the rest of the album perfectly. Similarly, "Sweeter" follows the idea of a toxic relationship, in which DeMarco insists to the listener that they “could try things over, as if there wasn’t ever pain”. The lyrics are phrased to suggest he was the one in the wrong and is self-aware, but knows that this time he can attempt to be “sweeter” if the subject allows him to try again.
"Phantom," the third single released for the album, shows the haunting feeling of an old relationship. DeMarco seems to feel as if the spirit of his lost love is still with him, watching from the shadows. Following this tone of regret is "Nightmare" which tackles not being able to change your past actions. Maybe if you had behaved differently, there could’ve been a different outcome. However, it’s too late, so DeMarco encourages the listener to “smoke the whole pack,” because, “there’s no turning back from this one”. Self reflection seems to be a strong theme in this album, and in "Terror" we catch a glimpse of the way DeMarco views himself. On this poignantly self-aware track, we hear from DeMarco, a self-proclaimed terror, who brings disaster to wherever he roams as he sings, “this is all I’ll ever be.” He’s not asking or pleading and is hyper aware of how he’s perceived.
It’s not a stretch to assume that "Rock And Roll" is DeMarco’s response to the idolization of musical artists and the isolating feelings that come along with it. Despite fandom and the reverence that accompanies it, you can’t escape yourself and your own inner turmoil. While this track tackles a very current topic in the world of celebrity, the track is immediately emotionally upstaged by "Home", originally released as the album’s first single, and what is probably the most lyrically complex and structured song on the entire LP. Diving into feelings of unresolved guilt towards tattered friendships, DeMarco wants to go home, but finds it too emotionally difficult to do so. Face-to-face with the past he needs to make amends for, he instead takes the easy way out and chooses not to return.
"Nothing At All" follows the swings of a lover’s depressive episode. It’s either “all or nothing at all”, a dichotomy that’s demonstrative of how small things can accidentally set off depressive lows or euphoric highs. Heightened emotions carry over to the following track as DeMarco tackles the feeling of societal pressure to take the correct path in life with "Punishment". While everyone grows up being told to do the right thing in life, how is one to know what that actually is?
Returning to earlier themes, "Knockin" follows the feeling of past regrets, similar to "Home" and "Phantom”—uninvited thoughts knocking at your mind’s door, running moments of serenity and inner peace.
The penultimate track and second single to be released for Guitar, "Holy" is lyrically short, being composed of only 10 lines. It questions the truth behind both curses and miracles introspectively, and reads out akin to a poem. Concluding the album, "Rooster" opens in a familiar way: DeMarco’s crooning and a soft-spoken guitar. Despite warnings of a “dimming future”, DeMarco assures the listener not to be scared. He’ll still ‘rise with the rooster”, living another day. Although the album explores darker themes than previous releases, DeMarco still manages to end Guitar on a high note, optimistic towards an unknown future.
Overall, it’s hard to determine if Guitar was a risk for DeMarco. Despite being recorded in twelve days—which seems as though it would threaten the integrity of the album—it follows the formula of his past albums, and isn’t particularly revolutionary sonically. However, at face value, Guitar is a wonderfully poignant album, with mature lyrics and themes accompanied by a beautiful stripped-down acoustic backing. It’s not ground-breaking, but a highly-recommended listen nonetheless.