Machine Gun Kelly, or MGK’s, sixth album Tickets to My Downfall (2020) is a prime example of creativity without limits. The rapper stayed true to his high school roots while straying from his typical sound with a pop-punk, alternative rock-inspired album. This is a huge, but welcome, jump—MGK’s style has always been influenced by the rough, ragged vocals and blaring melodies of punk rock. Though such influences had been seen in previous albums, such as in BINGE (2018) and Hotel Diablo (2019), Tickets to My Downfall is the first time we see MGK dedicate an entire album to the genre. Machine Gun Kelly’s sixth album is a game-changer for rap, and will leave you clamoring for the repeat button when it ends.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe aptly-named opening song “title track” starts off slow, but jumpstarts us into loud guitar riffs and the biting lyrics that are typical of punk rock. Being about “selling tickets to my downfall,” the song focuses on how his friends and coworkers have wanted to see him fall from grace for years. The entire song can pretty much be summed up by the following verse, “I use a razor to take off the edge, ‘Jump off the ledge,’ they said / ‘Take the laser, aim at my head and paint the walls red,’ I said / I’m crazy, I’m off the meds, I’m ‘better off dead,’ they said.” MGK kicks off the album by addressing heavy, dark topics around drug abuse, self-harm, and betrayal; yet, it is because he is acknowledging his demons that the album was so creatively successful.
This edgy yet vulnerable energy bleeds into every track, including the second song, “kiss kiss.” This track centers on the hedonism and adrenaline involved in new relationships, and how such relationships can ultimately drain you, “Same time and the same place / We can get shitfaced / There’s a lot that I wanna say / But that’s for another day, okay.” MGK’s failed relationships over the years have usually been due to a deadly combination of fame, drugs, and emotional avoidance, so “kiss kiss” is a catchy tune revealing one of his biggest insecurities.
The third song, “drunk face,” mimics this same contrast of a catchy, melodic song with deep meanings—typical of pop punk—by showing us how he is still battling the same demons he’s faced for years. Similar to “kiss kiss,” it focuses on his hedonism and lack of judgement, stating he’ll “grow up next summer.” A youthful anthem, “drunk face” is perhaps the poster boy for MGK’s changed sound, and for a Bay Area-punk influenced album. Likewise, “concert for aliens” holds a youthful punk tone to it, as it is about MGK’s life being “upside down” and is full of fast-paced guitar riffs reminiscent of 90’s-00’s punk bands, such as Green Day, New Found Glory, Blink-182, and countless others. The catchy chorus, guitars, and melodies all scream summers in high school: there’s that bit of angst we all undoubtedly felt, but also an undeniable joy in not giving a fuck about anything.
Embed from Getty ImagesA break in the code, fourth track “bloody valentine” brings a bit of positivity to the album with a lovely tune that, surprisingly, doesn’t focus on relationships going to shit. The song starts with a mellow tone, its indie vibe and layered vocals emulating those of alternative bands like The Drums or Tame Impala. The chorus then reminds us this is supposed to be a punk-inspired album by ramping up the volume, tension, and emotion with a mix of heavier guitar strumming and intense vocals. The entire song, compounded by the fact that Travis Barker (Blink-182’s drummer) helped produce the album, just screams Blink-182 to me, and I am living for it. From the sweet yet scathing lyrics, to the mixtures in meters and genres seen on Blink’s more recent albums, “bloody valentine” absolutely screams 90’s punk—and, better yet, is executed in a way which brings the genre justice.
Another absolute banger off of Tickets to My Downfall is “forget me too,” which features Travis Barker and Halsey. I was skeptical of whether this song would be “punk rock enough” considering it features Halsey, but I was stupidly wrong. This song goes hard and has been stuck in my head during way too many shifts at work. It has truly grown on me and instilled in me a deeper respect for both MGK and Halsey; I never realized how much the world needed a collaboration between these two until this track. The fast punk vibes combined with Halsey’s unique, biting lyrics and tone make for a creative tsunami the music industry needs to acknowledge in order to stay afloat.
Embed from Getty ImagesI also felt skeptical as to how the song “all i know” would fit into the punk theme, seeing as it features Trippie Redd, but again, I was proven stupidly wrong.
“all i know” nods at the rap style MGK built his career off of, while fusing it with his current expeditions into rock. Trippie Redd’s uniquely emo rap sound intermixed with MGK’s edgier style makes for an incredibly creative arena where two rappers can explore their interests without hesitation. Another example of this is “my ex’s best friend,” which proves how a collaboration between two primarily rap and lightly alternative artists can create an amazing product of pure art and magic. Currently, Spotify shows “my ex’s best friend” as MGK’s most popular song. This in itself speaks to how well-received the catchy melodies, smooth vocals from blackbear, and punk-influences have been for both artists’ audiences thus far–which only further proves the fact that the future of music lies in diversity.
Embed from Getty ImagesTickets to My Downfall ends with the somber yet optimistic “play this when i’m gone,” a song which focuses on the legacy MGK will leave behind for his daughter, Casie, when he dies. A sweet, teary tune, this song was not quite what I was expecting on such an adrenaline-filled album, but it feels perfect as the album closes. Through it, we are reminded of the deep love and bond he shares with Casie and his dedication towards her. Though the album ends here, a Deluxe edition and a Target Exclusive edition were also released, which each feature a handful of extra songs. These tracks range from covers of popular rock songs, such as Paramore’s “Misery Business,” to originals that didn’t make the cut (but are still amazing nonetheless). YUNGBLUD also makes an appearance with Bert McCracken of The Used on a Deluxe-exclusive song, titled “body bag,” and his presence here just brings me absolute joy. The fact that YUNGLBUD had already collaborated with MGK on his previous album, Hotel Diablo, shows that he values more than just superficialities like rankings and Billboard Hot 100 hits. MGK cares about his friends and fellow artists, and values meaningful bonds over fame and fortune (hell, each of the featured artists on this album are long-time friends).
Machine Gun Kelly’s sixth album, Tickets to My Downfall is a testament to his musical, artistic, and original creativity. Here we see a true artist who is not afraid to push the envelope and follow whichever path he forges for himself. The level of artistry and originality seen on this album exceeds my expectations, and is sure to inspire countless others who may have never given alternative rock genres the time of day. What MGK has done is vital to the survival of rock in today’s pop and rap-centric society, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Amber Ellertson