A Guitar Can do That!?: 2024 Was the Year of Mk.gee

– Written by Jackson Skam

I’m very reluctant to say that I am so behind the times on Mk.gee. Even though Southport’s very
own founder Hunter covered his debut album in an editorial earlier in the year, I neglected his
music until the very end of December (although I wish he would have shown up on my Wrapped).
Regardless of my ignorance to this breathtaking artist, I eventually found my way to Two Star &
The Dream Police a few weeks back and upon its first notes, I knew that this was something special.

My first song was Candy. I had gone to this track specifically after seeing that Graydon from the
music commentary duo Hivemind had this as his top song of 2024. From the abrasive start and the
wonderful Prince-like melody that followed, I was hooked. But even if I could hear some
similarities to previous artists, this was something I could not even put a genre label on. The lyrics
and melody convey an 80s synth-pop love ballad, but its guitar riffs also give a sense of being
intentionally unrefined that is more akin to modern indie rock trends. This mix also gives the track an industrial feeling that reminds me of some late 80s into 90s alternative rock. Essentially, this
song sounds like it could have been released in any of the past four decades, and it would have been
a hit.

But Candy was just one song off of the album. There’s no way that as you dive into Two Star & The
Dream Police, every song proves to be as beautifully crafted as the last, right? Wrong. This entire
album is a collection of absolute audio bliss. The album cover really encapsulates the feeling that
the music gives to the listener, placing them in a moving vehicle through a gloomy forest in the
early hours of the sun’s dawn. It is so graceful and elegant, as can be seen with tracks like “Are You
Looking Up” and “Breakthespell”, but then simultaneously contrasts with a feeling of an extreme
tension of emotions, kind of like the feeling of the build-up to an emotional breakdown or a tsunami
of passion, with tracks like “Alesis” and “Rylee & I”.

Although, for me, what most certainly stood out in Mk.gee’s artistry is his unique grasp on playing
the guitar. Using an iconic Fender Jaguar, Mk.gee creates such intricate soundscapes with only the
use of six strings is absolutely bewildering. So much from the droning synth lines, some percussion,
melodic rhythm sections and groovy-ass lead solos are all done solely with Mk.gee and his guitar. I
truly have never heard a guitar being played the way he does. And we wouldn’t just get a glimpse of
his musical genius on Two Star & The Dream Police, but also on his single “Rockman” which was
released in the latter half of the year. Arguably among his best tracks, “Rockman” continues on the
trend of mind-bending musicality and brings some awesome keys and vocal harmonies into the mix.

Mk.gee has had a breakthrough with this album, and I am only one among the many who have
come to praise Michael Gordon for his innovative style of creating music and experimenting with
sound. Among his supporters include none other than crappy person, amazing musician, Eric
Clapton, who praised the uniqueness and novelty of Mk.gee and his Two Star & The Dream Police.
To hear this admiration from a music and guitar legend as well as one of his personal heroes must
have been an absolute pleasure for Mk.gee and demonstrates the absolute genius we are bearing
witness to a once in a generation talent, and 100% my artist of the year for 2024.