The return of Mac Demarco presents a writing of fresh songs, even its • the tulane hullabalooo

Canadian and extraordinary singer-songwriter Mac Demarco dropped her latest album “Guitar»On August 22. The album serves as a return for DeMarco, not only as its first outing in two years, but also as its first entirely instrumental effort in more than half a decade.

It’s been a while since the public did not hear the voice of Demarco. In 2023, he released two albums: “Five easy hot dogs», A fully instrumental EP, and the sprawling, nine o’clock”A wayne g», A largely instrumental compilation of nearly 200 demos and half completed songs. Less than a few songs on the latter which presented rough voices, the last time Demarco even released an album featuring his song was 2019 “Here is the cowboy. “”

During the half-dozen years that followed the release of this album, many things happened in the personal life of the rock icon. Having been an established member of the Los Angeles music scene, Demarco, now 35 years old, has since I returned to his native Canada.

Once known for its tendency to smoke, to drink and Freak Out in the neighborhoodHe was sober since 2022. Supporting these developments is an increasing slowdown in the presence of Demarco in the eyes of the public, with the exception of a brief spell of Speculation on his potential retirement Music. It was therefore nothing less than a surprise when he announced plans earlier this year release an album And start tours again.

“Guitar”, preceded earlier in the year by singles “Home“”Saint” And “Ghost“Is an album which, despite the same sound and the same production style as its recent works, has an expansion of its songwriting capacities and its general range in a way before not demonstrated.

While all the long -standing signature elements of the Demarco sound – the férolite acoustic guitars, sparse and bass courageous percussions – are always present, the minimum production of this album is closer to “Here Comes The Cowboy” and his instrumental works than older albums like “This old dog” And “Salad days. “”

Demarco seems to approach certain things – especially lyrics and voices – a little differently on this album. Opener “Bright“Suddenly starting the album with Demarco reaching a high falsetto and Caterwailing, a change from his brand baritone voice. This high vocal register, only used by DEMARCO on the previous and perhaps more developed versions after abandoning the chorus.Nightmare“Presents a different demonstration from Falsetto de DeMarco; it seems semi-operative when it recites the words perhaps the most relevant for its recent personal experiences:” Roll these sleeves / smoke the whole pack / There is no turn back to it “.

Indeed, one of the “guitar” special forces is in its lyrical content. DeMarco is not so much a wordsmith that it is a hook-smith; A glance through the words of his most popular songs will show that, although he is not without talent as a lyricist, he is more concerned to put the right amount of syllables to his melody than to win a Pulitzer prize.

That being said, the words of Demarco shine on the “guitar”, in particular because of the emotion, the personality and the relevance they manage to evoke. Regret, fear and lost love are common themes, apparently as reflections of the current emotional state of Demarco.

The album reaches its darkest point on “Terror“When Demarco sings,” I am terrified to die / this old gift that we all receive “, a word that only becomes dismal when we consider that it could have been influenced by the passage of some of Demarco’s parents In recent years. Single “Holy” finds the artist asking for a miracle to save him from an eternal curse which he believes to hang on to him. But the “guitar” is not all dark and woe, and many songs present the positivity that comes with the personal growth and maturation of Demarco after more than a decade of music.

The always raised Demarco seems to be content to slow down and cool off a little, a thought highlighted on songs like “Rooster“When he says” darling, I don’t bite / at least not as I did. “These words, combined with perpetually strong compositions and melodies produced by Demarco, constitute a collection of songs which includes some of his strongest works to date.

Mac DeMarco’s “guitar” is a real return for independent legend, and not only in the sense that it is his first to present his voice in half a decennia. Although some can challenge the lack of musical experimentation of Demarco and find production on the album somewhat stagnating, it is difficult to deny that this album contains part of the strongest song writing to date. Don’t be mistaken, the “guitar” is worthy of listening, because it proves that This old dog There are still a few tips.