'lost americana' has something for everyone: ballads, classic mgk-style tracks, and part-covers that rework familiar hits, the kind that make you go, "Oh, I've heard that before" – like his nod to 'Semi-Charmed Life' by Third Eye Blind.
It's not an album with a clear, linear sound, and that's the point in my opinion. mgk's chaotic life has produced a chaotic record, and its unpredictability is part of its appeal. It's honest about where he's been, what he’s done, and maybe even the fact that he doesn't know where he's going – which makes the chaos feel deliberate.
As the title suggests, 'lost americana' feels like mgk trying to find himself again after rehab, drug use, and a very public breakup with Megan Fox while she was pregnant with their first child. It's far from any single genre – you'll either love or hate that – but for someone like me, who also deals with hyperactivity like mgk, it's kept me hooked and on repeat.
The opener, 'outlaw overture', sets you up for a ride that swerves between fast, high-energy tracks (like 'cliché' which has gone viral as a TikTok dance) and slower, confessional ones. For me, the standouts are the latter, with 'treading water' as my favourite. Its subtle 'Iris' (Goo Goo Dolls) backdrop and lyrics about his breakup make it one of his most moving tracks. 'tell me what's up' follows in the same vein, with raw reflections on his past, while 'orpheus' adds unexpected depth with classical instrumentation.
Whether he's 'borrowing' a hook you know by heart or laying it all out over a softer track, 'lost americana' never sits still – and that's what keeps me, and hopefully you, listening.
