Mac DeMarco’s “Guitar” is his sixth studio album, released Aug. 22, 2025, in a shorter runtime than the previously released “Here Comes the Cowboy” in 2019, with a length of around 31 minutes. The album has one less song than “Cowboy,” with a total of 12 songs.
DeMarco was raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, by his single mother. His upbringing was rough at times, especially in his high school years, with the relationships made in his hometown serving as a point of reference and inspiration for sections of the album.
“Guitar” delves into themes of resurfaced love, regret, friendships drifting apart, longing, and old habits dying hard. Throughout the album, DeMarco expresses the unrequited, unresolved feelings in his heart and the persistence to move forward despite that.
Many less significant ideas are present on the new album, however, there is no grand statement DeMarco is trying to make, nor any call to action, instead he opts for a laid back listening experience. This style is ultimately a benefit, as the songs are practically demos, giving the autonomy to have a relaxed listening experience, or to listen to the deeper messages between the lines.
The opening track, “Shining,” illustrates DeMarco’s feeling of yearning for something more than the relationship he has, wondering if the grass might be greener on the other side. He describes his heart as wandering despite having all “I want.” He suggests that she should be with someone else who could give her the attention and love she deserves, not his “wandering heart.”
On “Sweeter,” he describes wanting to try again with a partner, promising for it to be “sweeter” this time, despite causing her heart to break “over and over again” because of it. Knowing that, he still tries, aware that “some things never change,” foreshadows another heartbreak.
The first six tracks highlight DeMarco’s feelings of isolation, heartbreak, yearning, and the lingering effects of love lost. These feelings strike a chord with all the “would’ve, should’ve and could haves” listeners who experience it in day to day life, whether they are concerned with love and relationships or not.
In the latter half of the album, DeMarco takes a tonal shift. He transitions from wanting another chance to prove he “can be sweeter” if he is allowed to try again, to now wishing distance from both them, and his “Home.”
In the seventh track, “Home,” DeMarco illustrates his desire to essentially forget his home, as he associates it with memories and people that he’d rather let go of, opting to forget about that past before he’d think about going home again. This song keeps in line with the new common theme of the latter six, distancing himself from others, intentionally or not, to find a way he can live comfortably.
Following the idea of purposeful distance presented in “Home,” “Punishment” illustrates the idea of complete and total passivity, regardless of the damage it might do to himself. The goal is to keep his idea of peace, allowing just about any type of storm to throw his life around.
“Guitar” offers different routes to take whether that be a simple and easy listening experience or an introspective, reflective presentation on lost love and wanting to live in a way that’s comfortable and fulfilling despite the relationships with a partner or with friends that could muddle. Regardless of which, the album is a relatable, laid-back listen worth the 31 minute playing time.
