You are immediately welcomed to Mk.gee’s signature sound that some might find hard to get into right away. He uses electronic drums and loud sound effects along with some distorted guitar to create something different. The contrast between his vocals and instruments creates a perfect mix. The instrumental outro shows some of his crazy drum patterns and atmosphere. “New Low” is a decent intro, leaving room for the rest of this great album.
This song is in my top five most-played songs of all time, according to Apple Music. This is because this song is absolutely addictive. He gives you a taste of his amazing guitar tone that is hard to replicate. The guitar riff sounds smooth and groovy, and because this song is so short, it instantly goes on repeat. Something about his vocals fits so well with the sound he is creating. Don’t let the production take over the lyrics. He creates such deep and romantic lyrics that you may not catch them every time.
“Are You Looking Up” is one of his most-streamed songs, and it makes sense. Once again, an addictive guitar riff along with crisp drums and bass. I love how the guitar tone sounds bright and then randomly turns very distorted and layered. His vocals sound perfect again, but they almost sound slightly pitched up. This song was actually featured in season three of The Bear, which is one of my favorite shows. When he ends the song with an instrumental and just lets the song breathe until the end, you’re left wanting more.
“DNM” supposedly stands for Dijon & Mk.gee as a way to commemorate their frequent collaboration on production. If you like this song, you will definitely like Dijon. Many would consider this the most replayable song as Mk.gee will sometimes play this song over five times at his shows! I would never get tired of it because I never get sick of this song. The repetitive drum beat, distorted piano, and guitar, along with the background vocals of this chorus, keep you entertained the whole time. I love how he creates these spikes and hills of sound. Mk.gee will continue to impress.
Mk.gee likes to include these short intros to his songs that sometimes don’t sound anything like the actual song, which adds to his distinct sound. “DNM” along with “You got it” are very good examples of that. He starts very quietly with a bass guitar riff that matches his vocals, creating great ambience. Soon, the song switches to this bright synth and guitar section that ends the song perfectly.
I feel like this song is the most difficult to listen to, but I personally enjoy it a lot. “Rylee and I” shows off how crazy he makes his guitar sound. It honestly sounds like some sort of monster, alien, or robot sound, and not even a guitar. I like how he varies his vocals by doing some almost-screaming singing, adding lots of emotion. The name Rylee seems to show up multiple times throughout the song and album, leaving the listener to wonder if this is a past or current lover, and if that’s even her real name, too.
If you only hear this song, you would not think it was released in 2024. “Candy” sounds so vintage but also new at the same time. His guitar sound on this song has to be my favorite that he uses. It’s just slightly distorted, but also bright at the same time. Mk.gee is actually very good at making a catchy chorus, and it shows on this song. My favorite part has to be the guitar solo; the song just clears up and makes room for this amazing section. “Candy” is definitely one of my favorites off the album.
“I Want” reminds me of the song “Every Breath You Take” by The Police. The mellow atmosphere and spacious vocals create an iconic sound. He adds another spike in sound with this large guitar and drums that sound so 80s. He somehow makes some of his production sound like a vintage sample, but really, it’s all him. I would love to hear this song live one day.
This is Mk.gee’s most popular song, and for the right reason. With the steady drums and crunchy guitar, the production, again, sounds perfect. I love his shouting and falsetto vocals in the catchy chorus that make you want to sing your heart out. His lyrical ability is showing off that shouldn’t go unnoticed. This is definitely the most accessible song off the album, and anyone would enjoy it.
This is the longest song on the album, but it feels like the shortest. I absolutely love how chill he gets on this song. You will be hypnotized and relaxed while listening to this. His light and low vocals add so much to this ambient song. Not much else to say about this except that he hasn’t missed through this whole album.
Mk.gee’s vocals become so clear on “Little Bit More”, which makes this song very intimate. The mellowed-out guitar tone with some distant background vocals is so nice on the ears. He seems to have this unique sound when he adds piano to his songs, and it just adds character to his songs. I only wish that this song were longer.
“Dream Police” has some production that would make you think it was made 40 years ago. The atmospheric synths and light drums will bring you back to the 80s. Somehow, his vocals make it his own and sound modern. I think that guitar solo would fit perfectly in this song, and honestly, in some of the other songs too, but I enjoy that he lets the song play out to create a wholesome ending.
