Mac DeMarco – Guitar review

It’s not difficult to understand and agree with Mac DeMarco’s opinion on the insidious nature of machine music and the threat that it poses to creativity. His point of view is directly related to both what Guitar means to him personally as a record and how technology is stealing money from artists; “AI is coming in and getting good at things, fast..people using AI to even write lyrics a lot nowadays, which is a bit like… give me a fucking break.”

Things become clearer still when the context of his sixth release is sketched in. The follow up to the completely instrumental Five Easy Hot Dogs was recorded entirely at his Los Angeles home, with DeMarco taking care of the entire process, including the mixing which was done in his native Canada. In short, this is wholly his record, not the product of some faceless algorithm.

Not that it should, but understanding this brings a great sense of intimacy. Lo-fi and laid back in places to almost the point of stoned nothingness, the yard blues of Rock And Roll is a brief foray into the more orthodox. The treasures here are usually though far more simple, Home, Sweeter and Shining each with their own relatable charms. Hold Guitar up to the window and you can see the light shine through, but in a world full of musical Agent Smiths, it’s a record as flawed and wonderful as only a human being could make.

You can read a full reivew here.