Sony Music Entertainment
Release Date: September 22nd 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Megan Moroney– Lucky (Deluxe) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- I’m Not Pretty
- Lucky
- Tennessee Orange
- Kansas Anymore
- Girl In The Mirror
- Another On The Way
- Traitor Joe
- Why Johnny
- God Plays A Gibson
- Georgia Girl
- Sleep On My Side
- Mustang Or Me
- Sad Songs For Sad People
- Fix You Too (feat. Kameron Marlowe)
- Nothin’ Crazy (feat. Mackenzie Carpenter)
- Reasons To Stay
Ever since 2019 and our ever-on-going blog series (which we’re still in the middle of, and which we plan to restart in January 2024!), I’ve been branching out and listening to music that I wouldn’t normally in the past. And I’ve found that ‘mainstream’ music, which was marketed to me as ‘bad’ and ‘evil’, actually isn’t. These people who are singing songs for the mainstream media, are just people, and ordinary people like you and me. And it is country music is the genre (apart from CCM), which I have been most hard-hit by in a good away, and I’ve found that I’ve resonated greatly with artists like Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Shania Twain, Lindsay Ell, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Runaway June, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Lady A, Tenille Townes, Tenille Arts, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton, Walker Hayes, Carly Pearce, Lauren Alaina, Gabby Barrett and even Taylor Swift. Even though I’m not American, it is these artists above (and many, many more whom I probably have forgotten!), who have helped place this genre in a special place in my heart. And as we’ve reviewed country albums over the years and seem God move in ways beyond imagination and comprehension with these artists, and as we’ve seen God be praised and given the glory in the marketplace; here we are in 2023 with another ‘new-ish’ artist and her heartfelt, honest, inspiring, vulnerable, and poignant music. Megan Moroney was indirectly recommended to me through a Grady Smith video where he reviewed a song of hers; but prior to before she was signed to Sony Music Entertainment, Megan was virtually an unknown artist. She was, and probably still is, an artist that has flown by underneath the radar. Sure, fans of Megan would know her discography inside and out. But the casual fan like myself (and I’m slowly becoming slightly more than a casual fan!), would have no idea. But this year, one of her songs from her debut album Lucky found its way onto a Spotify playlist I was listening to one day. From then on, I eagerly dived deep into Megan’s material, and found that as a country singer, her lyrics are incredibly deep and her passion and zeal for life so admirable. Megan’s songs aren’t as polished as veterans in the industry like Carrie or Miranda or Kelsea or Lainey or Carly, even though Megan is signed to a label now. But the honesty and vulnerability is still here, as we as listeners are met with one of the most heartfelt and strongest debut albums of the year thus far. We reviewed the album here, but now Megan is back with three more tracks, and a deluxe edition of Lucky.
One thing I’ve noticed when I’ve been listening to this album, is that this project is incredibly diverse musically and that Megan’s voice is strong also- which are plus points in any debut album. With songs like “I’m Not Pretty”, “Tennessee Orange”, “Girl In The Mirror”, “Why Johnny”, “God Plays A Gibson”, and “Mustang Or Me” all being personal highlights and standouts on an already impressive and inspiring album, these three new tracks only enhance a near-flawless project. “Fix You Too” features Kameron Marlowe, and is an emotional ballad where two people amicably break up because they have issues of their own and they don’t want to try to ‘fix’ the other person. Using the analogy of a broken house as the broken parts of their lives; both Magan and Kameron acknowledge that their messed up and in need of help. When you’re in that spot, you might think you need saving from someone- like to jump head first into a new relationship. But I reckon it takes real guts to shy away from something romantic at that stage in your life; and this song encourages us to and actually recommends that we work on our own issues and not expect to fix someone else when we enter into a relationship. Once we know that people have issues just like us, then a relationship can flourish when we’re honest and open and work through issues together as a couple and as a unit. “Nothin’ Crazy”, a fun and sassy duet with Mackenzie Carpenter, highlights the crazy caricature of a person who is obsessed with their partner even after the first or second date- in this hyperbolic and at times farfetched melody, Megan and Mackenzie implore us all to stay away from people that are too intense. “Reasons To Stay”, a harrowing and emotional ballad, rounds out the already impressive deluxe edition debut, with Megan outlining that she wants to break up with her ex as he hasn’t given her reasons to stay, but she feels afraid of change and she doesn’t want to lose the connections she has with her ex’s family.
Like with Alana Springsteen’s album, the intended audience for this album… isn’t for me. I’m a single white male, so Megan Moroney’s music shouldn’t resonate with me that much. But it does! Who would’ve thought? But anyway, Megan’s vocals are crazily awesome, and you all need to listen to this album- to hear one of the strongest country debuts this year (along with albums from Alana Springsteen, Ashley Cooke and yet-to-be-reviewed albums from Kylie Morgan, Alexandra Kay and Emily Ann Roberts!) since Anne Wilson’s My Jesus. Similar in style to Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson; Megan’s debut project reminds us that it’s ok to try new things and take risks sometimes- because when you do fail at things when you are young (or at any age, actually!), you can then get back up and start again. Megan, like her aforementioned contemporaries, has a brilliant career ahead of her, and I can’t wait to hear what is next. Well done, Megan, you deserve all the praise and then some more!
5 songs to listen to: Girl In The Mirror, Why Johnny, God Plays A Gibson, Mustang Or Me, Nothin’ Crazy
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Carly Pearce, Lainey Wilson, Maddie & Tae, Kelsea Ballerini, RaeLynn, Hailey Whitters, Tenille Arts