By Spencer Bates

Machine Gun Kelly’s (“bloody valentine”) second pop-punk album, “mainstream sellout,” has lived up to the expectations as the artist continues to bear the title of poster-child for the genre.

The Cleveland native has been everywhere in the media since his breakthrough into the world of pop-punk and rock. People who may not like the artist cannot help but hear his name due to his strange antics outside of the music scene as well.

All of this aside, “mainstream sellout” is a near perfect album for those who listen to music for the sole purpose of enjoyment. 

The project starts off a little rough with the opening track “born with horns” and its slightly confusing pace and flow of lyrics. The next song “god save me” is slightly better, but still has some of the same issues as its predecessor. The saving graces for these songs are the addictive beats and catchy choruses that make up for the structural issues.

However, the album picks up drastically after the first two songs. A good mix of features with eight different artists that genuinely compliment Billboard’s “Pop-Punk Crown Prince,” kicks off with “maybe,” featuring well established punk band Bring Me The Horizon (“POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR”). The structure of this piece, as well as each one thereafter, is much better. This song is reminiscent of classic punk songs with its addictive chorus, guitar and drums.

Unlike Kelly’s last album “Tickets To My Downfall,” the songs that were released prior as singles do not carry the weight of the project as a whole. “maybe,” “emo girl,” “ay!” and “papercuts,” which got an album edit that is different from its original release, are all decent songs in their own right. However, the best songs on the album were kept hidden.

Kelly clearly heard all of the criticism of him and his music during the time between now and his last album release. As a rebuttal, the song, “mainstream sellout,” at the center of the project, calls out all of the hate with lyrics such as, “I heard the feedback, I’m a poser with a guitar and a choker/Leave the scene, you’re ruining it/You’re sold out and it makes me sick/So leave the scene you’re ruining it.”

The lyrics speak volumes to how much Kelly is seemingly hated online by the vultures of the music world, while also reminding them that there is a reason he is on top of the game with a song that purely rocks.

The final four songs round off the project perfectly as the mood shifts into a slower more heartfelt one. Perhaps the most surprising thing on the album is the addition of feature artists Gunna (“DS4EVER”) and Young Thug (“Punk”). The performance by the high-profile rap artists on the track “die in california” is something to admire as they have not done anything in the genre before.

Kelly saves the best song on the album until nearly the end with “sid & nancy.” The tragic story mixed with the simple but uplifting guitar makes for a masterpiece of a track. The way the song trails off at the end leads perfectly into easily the most heart wrenching piece on the album.

As the stronger of two slower and more meaningful songs on the album, “twin flame,” is the perfect song to close out the project. A tale of hope, love and loss, the song features a brief cameo from the artist’s fiance, Megan Fox (Jacqueline, “Big Gold Brick”). 

With the words, “Go to sleep/I’ll see you in my dreams/This changes everything/Now I have to set you free,” Kelly closes out the album in a similar fashion as his last, by saying goodbye, but to what he is referencing up to interpretation.

Overall, pop-punk’s golden boy has done it yet again by producing an outstanding album. Despite facing a wave of hate from those who overanalyze any and all music, “mainstream sellout” is for those who crave a fast-paced project that is easy to fall in love with.

Image from Machine Gun Kelly via YouTube