Released 8 August
Universal Music
Machine Gun Kelly has always been hard to pin down. Rapper, pop punk frontman, actor. Each chapter of his career has come with a new sound, a new look, and a fresh round of people ready to either crown him or count him out. With Lost Americana, his seventh studio album, he has pulled the handbrake on expectations and taken a sharp turn. It just dropped on Friday, three years after Mainstream Sellout, and it is one of the most complete and personal records he has made.
This time there are no guest vocalists. It is all MGK on the mic, and you can feel the focus. There are, however, some well-chosen collaborators in the writing credits. Emma Rosen, Andrew Migliore, Nick Long, Mod Sun, Megan Fox, phem, Brandon Allen, and Stephan Jenkins each leave a mark on different songs. Their contributions add flavour without pulling the spotlight from Colson himself.
From the first seconds of ‘Outlaw Overture‘ you hear the shift. The track opens with 80s rock textures and a widescreen build. MGK has encouraged fans to press play in the car and keep driving, and it is easy to hear why. The road trip feeling runs through the album. ‘Cliché‘, co-written with Emma Rosen and Andrew Migliore, channels early 2000s pop rock energy. ‘Goddamn‘, with Nick Long in the credits, slides into a breezy country rock groove with twang and swing. The production is warm and organic, and the band provides a genuine, consistent sound through the album. MGK also dropped the fact that every piano part you hear is played by him, a bold move from an artist known first for rap and then for high-octane pop punk.
The writing is stripped of artifice. ‘Treading Water‘, co-written with Mod Sun, is the gut punch moment. MGK sings about checking into rehab during the holidays, leaving home on Christmas, and vowing to change for his daughter. It is the kind of song you feel in your chest because it lands with real-life weight. ‘Vampire Diaries‘ uses supernatural imagery to paint the toll of fame. ‘Orpheus‘, co-written with Megan Fox, takes a Greek myth and turns it into a meditation on loss, love, and closure.
For me, the standouts are clear. ‘Outlaw Overture‘ sets the tone and throws open the door to this new chapter. ‘Cliché‘ nails the balance between radio-ready polish and genuine charm. ‘Treading Water‘ is the rawest he has sounded on record. ‘Orpheus‘ closes the album with a reflective pull that lingers long after the last note fades.
Lost Americana works because it moves with purpose. The sequence takes you from energy to reflection without losing momentum. The lyrics are sharp. The production leaves room for the emotion to breathe. MGK is front and centre throughout. The co-writers help lift each song but never blur his voice or intent.
MGK has made albums that were about swagger. He has made albums that were about proving something. This one feels like it is about telling the truth and enjoying the craft. It shows growth, a clearer sense of self, and a confidence in his range. Lost Americana is a career high point. It is personal, focused, and built to last beyond its
first week on repeat.
Rating: 9/10
Review by Luci Scott
Stream/Purchase Lost Americana here
MGK – Lost Americana tracklisting:
1. outlaw overture
2. cliche
3. don’t wait run fast
4. goddamn
5. vampire diaries
6. miss sunshine
7. sweet coraline
8. indigo
9. starman
10. tell me what’s up
11. can’t stay here
12. treading water
13. orpheus
