MKTO

by MKTO

Overview

Featuring the talents of actor/musicians Malcolm Kelly and Tony Oller, MKTO's full-length debut album, 2014's eponymous MKTO, is an exuberant and catchy mix of dancey, hip-hop-infused pop, rock, and R&B. Produced by Emanuel Kiriakou and Andrew Goldstein (Demi Lovato, Hot Chelle Rae, Jason Deruelo), MKTO showcases the duo's one-two punch style, which usually consists of Oller's resonant vocals backed by Kelly's playful raps. What could end up sounding gimmicky or contrived doesn't, as Kelly (who some may remember as Walt on Lost) and Oller reveal they have enough thoughtful irreverence and technical skill to keep things interesting. MKTO, who met while starring on the Nickelodeon's Gigantic, seem at once like slick, major-label teen fodder and loose-cannon goofballs who don't want anyone to tell them what to do. Sometimes, as on the album's flagship anthem "Thank You," it's even unclear as to when the duo is being satirical or earnest. They sing "Yo, this one right here/Is for all the drop-out-of-schoolers/The future cougars/The Mary Jane abusers/The ones that chose to be losers/For all the misfit kids and total outkasts/MKTO, this one's for you/Role models." One assumes the truth lies somewhere in between and that MKTO the album is a smartly produced package that loosely contains the ball of synergistic ADHD talent that is Kelly and Oller. Thankfully, Kiriakou and Goldstein (who either wrote or co-wrote much of the album) know how to craft a catchy pop hook, and cuts like the immediately addictive "Classic" and similarly appealing "Could Be Me" (featuring Ne-Yo) are brightly colored, radio-ready songs that fall somewhere between the ueber-confident R&B of Justin Timberlake and the soulful pop of Bruno Mars. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	04/01/2014
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0888430029620

Tracks

1. Thank You
2. Classic
3. God Only Knows
4. American Dream
5. Could Be Me
6. Forever Until Tomorrow
7. Wasted
8. Heartbreak Holiday
9. Nowhere
10. No More Second Chances
11. Goodbye Song

Album Credits

Performance Credits

MKTO   Primary Artist
Andrew Goldstein   Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Rami Yacoub   Bass,Vocals (Background)
David Kelley   Rap,Vocals (Background)
Summer Davis   Choir/Chorus
Shaffer Smith   Vocals (Background),Vocals
Carl Falk   Guitar
Joshua Britt   Choir/Chorus
Mariah Britt   Choir/Chorus
Malcolm Kelley   Rap,Vocals (Background)
Kiana Scott   Choir/Chorus
Lydia Bachman   Choir/Chorus
Rennon O'Neal   Choir/Chorus
Jessica Ashley   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Evan "Kidd" Bogart   Vocals (Background)
Tony Oller   Piano,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Alex Buchman   Choir/Chorus
Chris Kiriakou   Choir/Chorus
Nathaniel Semsen   Choir/Chorus
Sam Kiriakou   Choir/Chorus
Emanuel Kiriakou   Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Ne-Yo   Featured Artist
Savan Kotecha   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Andrew Goldstein   Composer,Producer,Programming
Josh Cheuse   Design,Art Direction
Rami Yacoub   Composer,Producer,Programming
Tim Davis   Vocal Contractor
Eric Bellinger   Composer,Vocal Producer
Jens Koerkemeier   Editing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Theresa LaBarbera Whites   A&R
Carl Falk   Composer,Producer,Programming
Joseph Cultice   Photography
Brandyn Burnette   Composer
Evan "Kidd" Bogart   Composer,Executive Producer
Anthony Oller   Composer
Denis Kosiak   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Curtis "Sauce" Williams   Editing,Engineer
Jessica Karpov   Composer
Josh Sellers   Assistant
Malcolm Kelly   Composer
Nate Blasdell   Composer
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Chris Gehringer   Mastering
Ed Cherney   Piano Engineer
Pat Thrall   Editing,Engineer
Emanuel Kiriakou   Composer,Producer,Programming,Executive Producer
John Hanes   Mixing Engineer
Lindy Robbins   Composer
Niko Bolas   Engineer
Max Martin   Composer
Savan Kotecha   Composer
Shaffer Smith   Composer