Morgan Wade: ‘PSYCHOPATH’ Album Review

Morgan Wade’s brand new album, PSYCHOPATH is out now, August 25th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new music below.

Morgan Wade was one of country music’s top breakout stars in 2021 when she released her debut album, Reckless, with Thirty Tigers. The album proved to be successful, selling over 3,000 copies its first week. Its lead single, “Wilder Days” reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot Country chart. Covering subjects of sobriety, mental health, and past relationships, the record was critically acclaimed for its raw and authentic story telling—Rolling Stone even named it the Best Country Album of the year. Psychopath follows suit. From top to bottom, these songs are unique and real, and while personal to the Virginia-native, it can relate to a variety of listeners on many different levels.

“When I started working on Psychopath I was nervous (still am) about following such a ‘critically-acclaimed’ album. But as I sit here and listen to this art that Sadler and I created (again), I am proud,” Wade humbly stated in a recent press release. “This record shows where I have been since Reckless, and where I’m at now.”

This album’s main themes are overcoming early hardship and experiencing true love. Wade released the title track in May—a mostly stripped-down love story about how two people can love each other through the good, bad, and wild times. The beachy sounding “Fall In Love With Me” was also previously released, and features the protagonist trying to woo her crush. The comical music video features Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, Kyle Richards. 

The project kicks off with the upbeat yet vulnerable “Domino.” The singer paints a vivid picture of her current well-being with the creative, yet grim line “My roses are dead, all my pills are blue. The house is a wreck; my head is, too.” However, she is grateful she has someone in her life she can lean on for support.

“80s Movie” and “Want” touch on desires of love. In the former, Wade refers to popular films of the decade including Grease, Dirty Dancing, and When Harry Met Sally. The music video has the singer sporting the vest Michael J. Fox’s character, Marty McFly made popular in Back To The Future. The latter is a slow, seductive piano-driven ballad where she doesn’t shy away from her strong feelings for this person.

“Phantom Feelings” and “Outrun Me” both feature popular songwriters—Julia Michaels, and Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna, respectively. While “Phantom Feelings” is a melancholy story of someone who can’t get over their latest love interest, “Outrun Me” is told from the perspective of someone who is okay with the breakup but knows the other will regret walking away.  

In “Losers Like Me” and “Meet Somebody” Wade channels her rock n’ roll influence. Backed by heavy electric guitar, the former sounds like it could be a Joan Jett cut. The protagonist expresses her frustration at not being able to find any good candidates to have a stable relationship with. In front a pounding bass, the singer in “Losers Like Me” described the big plans she had when she was 16. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out in her favor, and now the “losers” she passes in the street look just like her—alone.

“We said we wouldn’t get jobs and we’d burn our bras // We wouldn’t turn out nothing like our moms // I didn’t, but I wish I did”

Speaking of rockstars, tracks 5 and 6 share the name of rock legends. “Guns and Roses” is a dramatic ballad that touches on the unpredictability of relationships.” “Alanis” is an ode to the “Ironic” singer. She admires the passion and truth in her music and her ability to ignore what other people think of her. Wade admits it was her influence that helped her “be brave and keep the demons away.”

The album’s closer, “27 Club,” is by far the heaviest and most real. The singer speaks of her fragile mental health issues. The darkest line is in the third verse, “And some nights when I’m feeling suicidal, I could reach for the gun, I could reach for the bottle, but it’s great. At least now I’m getting paid.” Drugs, alcohol, or money can’t distract her from the dastardly voices in her head. Two verses later, she name-drops her hit “Wilder Days,” stating it’s the only reason why this “Beverly Hills hottie” is giving her the time of day. 

They say that your second album is the toughest to craft, especially when your first is such an overwhelming success. The second album is the true test of the artist’s ability and could potentially determine the direction of the artist’s career. Morgan Wade’s Psychopath did not disappoint, and we suspect this young talent to be a strong, female voice to be reckoned with in the industry for a long, long time.

“Regardless of what people say about Psychopath, I’m proud because I feel like it showcases where I am at this moment in time,” Wade confessed. “I have no choice but to be authentic. And I have to feel what I feel. And right now, I’m really feeling the music. I hope you can feel my authenticity and that you can get something out of this project.”

PSYCHOPATH Track List:

1. Domino (Morgan Wade/Ashley Monroe/Sadler Vaden/Butch Walker)
2. 80’s Movie (Morgan Wade/Sadler Vaden)
3. Losers Look Like Me (Morgan Wade)
4. Roman Candle (Morgan Wade)
5. Guns and Roses (Morgan Wade/Natalie Hemby/Sadler Vaden)
6. Alanis (Morgan Wade/Natalie Hemby/Sadler Vaden)
7. Phantom Feelings (Morgan Wade/Julia Michaels/Ben Rice)
8. Psychopath (Morgan Wade)
9. Outrun Me (Morgan Wade/Hillary Lindsey/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose/Sadler Vaden)
10. Want (Morgan Wade/Ashley Monroe/Angaleena Presley)
11. Fall In Love With Me (Morgan Wade)
12. Meet Somebody (Morgan Wade/Sadler Vaden)
13. 27 Club (Morgan Wade)

Country Swag Picks:

1. Losers Like Me
2. Meet Somebody
3. 27 Club
4. Alanis

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