By Remy Bailard
Arts Editor
Machine Gun Kelly’s latest release, “Tickets To My Downfall,” revives punk rock with tasteful, heartfelt lyrics that speak to the soul.
The album incorporates strong melodies full of emotion, while maintaining great energy throughout. However, the album lacks diversity, with many tracks sounding similar to one another.
Machine Gun Kelly is an American rap-per, singer and songwriter from Ohio. His first album, “Lace Up,” released in 2012,includes his hit single, “Wild Boy,” which launched the beginning of his career.
Released by Bad Boy/Interscope Records, “Tickets To My Downfall” is Ma-chine Gun Kelly’s fifth studio album and reached streaming platforms nationwide on Sept. 25. The album consists of 15 tracks, which includes his previously released single “bloody valentine.” The album also features several collabora- tions with artists including blackbear and Halsey.
The collaborative tracks of the album add a uniqueness that set them apart from the rest of the album. With the artists’ different music styles, a nice, versa- tile balance is added with a cohesive mix of punk rock with rap or pop. Machine Gun Kelly’s voice tends to sound similar from track to track, and his solo songs lacked diversity, which these artists helped the album recover from.
“Tickets To My Downfall” touches on the subjects of mental health and life strug- gles. Machine Gun Kelly uses descriptive lyrics to make listeners feel as if they are in his reality of feeling trapped. These lyrics speak to listeners with their sense of relat- ability and his ability to tell a story with each song.
One of the most stand-out songs of the album is “bloody valentine.” The track was initially released as a single, and sets high expectations for the rest of the album and its overall tone. The song maintains upbeat energy, and the lyrics are relatable for a wide variety of listeners, regardless of their personal backgrounds. The rhythm itself is smooth as well, making it an over- all enjoyable and easy listen.
Machine Gun Kelly brings his listen- ers through a powerful, emotional musical journey with intense lyrics and versatile musicality. The melodic rhythms of each set of songs allow his voice to become the focal point of the album, making an overall experience that is all the worthwhile for new listeners and long-time fans alike.
“Tickets To My Downfall” was released on Sept. 25 and is available for purchase on iTunes and Google Play. It can also be streamed on a variety of music streaming services and platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music, Pandora. and Soundcloud.
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