However, it did feel that DeMarco did not always know how to best use this new tool in his repertoire.

However, as the album progressed he relied less and less on his incredible guitar playing talent, and letting the synth steal the show, which for the most part added beautifully to the tone of the album. The vocals and lyrics are signature DeMarco, being some of the best he has released yet. This Old Dog took a turn in DeMarco’s growth as a musician, one that I welcomed but did not wholly expect, with the strong inclusion of synth in this album, whereas that had been sparse to absent in his previous works.

This Old Dog contains some great new tracks, but its poor pacing, lack of a developed sound, and some failed experiments make this not a bad album, but a disappointment from such an accomplished songwriter. Utilizing simple, direct lyrics and smooth and unique instrumentation, he cultivates dreamscapes of these different internal struggles and how messy and complex emotions and relationships can be. On This Old Dog, DeMarco sings of heavy thoughts and feelings about his father’s imminent passing, seeing his father in himself more and more, while also trying to learn from misunderstandings with his girlfriend. With little surprise, DeMarco stays true to his inviting quirkiness in both style and lyrics.

Following two months after the release of the videos for the tracks “My Old Man” and “This Old Dog,” DeMarco has released his much-anticipated third full-length album, This Old Dog. Mac DeMarco is a lovable goofball who’s proven himself as one of the best guitarists and musicians in the indie rock scene today.

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