Not only is Tickets To My Downfall a slick sideways hop from what you might be expecting from Machine Gun Kelly, it’s done excellently. It celebrates everything great about pop-punk without feeling cookie-cutter or third division.
While some songs are more interesting than others and some tend too close to blink-182 worship, Tickets to My Downfall succeeds more than it falters.
The annoying melodrama that made his rap material so exhausting is what gives his new music some real power. For the first time ever, the instrumentation suits Baker’s natural whine.
Clearly, this is the work of a guy who’s found a fresh lease on life by inserting himself inside a new musical tradition.
Thematically, Tickets to My Downfall is hardly a departure from MGK’s past work, but the new surroundings lightens his music up considerably even amidst the hormones and histrionics.
Despite going for a style that many thought wouldn’t find its footing again in the industry, Kelly and Barker construct a design that a lot fans my age would probably enjoy considering the era it’s borne from.
Despite its competence musically, Tickets to My Downfall’s cookie-cutter, antiquated presentation and MGK’s blatant ignorance make it a truly punishing experience to sit through.
Wow that was a rough listen.
MGK is a pretty awful person, and a complete moron. He must have just struck a chord with the public through his sheer lack of ability to write a song that isn’t the most basic, bare minimum shit. These songs have “variety” but I didn’t feel like I was listening to anything new with each passing moronic headache of a track.
Seriously this guy should genuinely chill with the drugs, because they have turned his brain into a potato. The ... read more
The flaws of this album are quite obvious. Halsey features, that stupid unfunny 1 minute interlude, that blackbear feature that was so bad it made me have to physically turn the song off to take a breather.
But..I love really loud pop punk and I am very stupid. I recognize the lyrics are bad and the features are bad and MGK can be seen as annoying. But the fun fast pop punk pase that's very "Rosenstock-esque" mixed with that retro Late-90s punk sound that's kinda nostalgic at times. ... read more
This project isnt all that bad. Some hits are really catchy and i respect Kelly’s dedication to the art of pop punk. It can be corny, awkward and downright silly but its far from the worst.
Just an obnoxiously corny take at a pop-punk album with no real meaning behind it. Some songs talk about genuine topics, however the cringe-worth lyrics and monotone vocals make said topics sound insincere and overall just goofy. This album is just a poor attempt at rebuilding whatever career the music industry has to offer after getting his rap career destroyed by a fight he himself picked.
1 | title track 2:45 | 47 |
2 | kiss kiss 2:18 | 44 |
3 | drunk face 2:23 | 41 |
4 | bloody valentine 3:25 | 51 |
5 | forget me too 2:51 with Halsey | 52 |
6 | all I know 2:09 feat. Trippie Redd | 39 |
7 | lonely 3:10 | 45 |
8 | WWIII 0:59 | 34 |
9 | kevin and barracuda 1:23 | 19 |
10 | concert for aliens 2:40 | 42 |
11 | my ex's best friend 2:19 with blackbear | 43 |
12 | jawbreaker 1:57 | 36 |
13 | nothing inside 2:52 feat. iann dior | 36 |
14 | banyan tree 1:31 | 28 |
15 | play this when i'm gone 3:22 | 40 |
#8 | / | The Ringer |
#9 | / | Kerrang! |
#13 | / | Punktastic |
#19 | / | Billboard |
/ | Alternative Press |