Tickets To My Downfall

Though his 2019 album Hotel Diablo mostly continued the commercial rap style that made mgk famous, the record closed with "I Think Im Okay," a melodic rock song featuring guest appearances from U.K. vocalist YUNGBLUD and blink-182s Travis Barker. The catchy tune injected mgks emotionally raw lyricism into a template of spirited guitar-driven pop-punk and it became a huge hit. For fifth album Tickets to My Downfall, mgk commits fully to the pop-punk style that was hinted at with "I Think Im Okay," making a bold-faced turn from moody rap songs to blasts of distorted guitar, uptempo drums, and vocal harmonies right out of the early-2000s mall punk playbook. Travis Barker is again a frequent collaborator, producing the album as well as contributing drums and occasionally co-writing some songs. This direct association might be part of why Tickets to My Downfall sounds inarguably enamored with blink-182, with songs like "Bloody Valentine," pained ballad "Play This When Im Gone," and the explosive "Title Track" following blinks blueprint of straightforward melodies, huge hooks, and cathartic choruses. The rap elements of the past arent completely scrubbed clean, with trap drums added to the mix of tunes like "Drunk Face," and cameo appearances from rappers like Trippie Redd and Blackbear. Even still, when Trippie Redd shows up on "All I Know," hes not rapping as much as singing some melodic lines that play nicely with the emo-rock format of the song. The themes of self-destruction, tainted romance, and struggles with depression that were often visited on mgks earlier material translate seamlessly from tormented rap to heart-aching pop-punk. Songs like the lovelorn and dramatic "My Exs Best Friend" might have a delivery thats worlds away from the brooding rap hes known for, but hes still singing about the same problems as always. The profound stylistic upset of Tickets to My Downfall will leave some listeners flat, simply because what they enjoyed about mgk as a rapper might be harder to find in his pop-punk songs. For those willing to come along for the ride, the album serves as a sincere and somewhat nostalgic embrace of pop-punk from the Myspace era. mgks personality is still at the heart of every song, even when trading 808 beats for crunchy guitar riffs. 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. While it would rank as a slightly above average album for any given pop-punk band, theres an added excitement in how risky this about-face is for a multi-platinum artist who could have easily turned in the same record he made last time. ~ Fred Thomas

デビュー時からDMXやエミネムと並んでブリンク182らを影響源に挙げつつも、その側面は作中の一要素に止めてきたMGKだが、前作『Hotel Diablo』から"I Think I'm OKAY"がヒットした結果でもあるのだろう。同曲に続いてトラヴィス・バーカーが総指揮した新作は、主役が歌と一部のギターを担当するポップ・パンク・アルバムに。ミーガン・フォックスとの交際に発展したMVも話題の"My Bloody Valentine"やホールジーと重なる歌声も新鮮な"Forget Me Too"など、内省も備えたメロディックな好曲が連発される。トリッピー・レッドと歌う"All I Know"などはリル・ウェイン『Rebirth』を思い出させる感触で、エモ・ラップなどを経てこういう試みが特殊ではなくなった時代の風情を改めて実感させるような快作。
bounce (C)出嶌孝次