Morgan Wade has been forging a unique path for herself in the country music world since she released her debut single, ‘Wilder Days', back in 2021. The track catapulted Wade's first album ‘Reckless' to the top of Rolling Stone's Best Country Albums of the Year list and hit the top 30 on the charts, as well as seeing her win over a slew of fans and sell out shows on both her UK headline tours in 2022 and 2023. Now she's back with her third LP, ‘Obsessed', the follow-up to last summer's ‘Psychopath'.
The 14-track project opens with the rocky ‘Total Control', a musing on the call of the road which features many of Wade's trademarks including sharp guitar notes, driving drums and a big soaring chorus. I also loved how she layered up the sounds – something she returns to throughout this record – and the almost dreamlike quality that the song has in places. Likewise, whilst her trademark rasp is still there, there's a richness in her voice that we haven't heard much before and I like that this adds more depth and dimension to the track.
One thing which particularly stuck out to me is how much Wade is leaning into her more romantic side on this album. The title track, with its touches of power-pop, is a great example of this as she observes the more intimate moments of a famous lover (‘I've seen you late at night eating takeout'), whilst the stripped-back ‘2AM In London' sees her missing her partner and wanting ‘two shadows on my wall' whilst she asks the hotel staff to take the minibar out of her room. I also loved ‘Moth To A Flame', a touching acoustic-led number which sees her giving up Friday nights out for time together, the sultry, sensual ‘Juliet' where she urges ‘don't keep me hidden' in an allusion to a secret romance, and ‘Spin' with its twangy melody, almost spoken word aspect in place and sense of yearning as Wade misses her previous relationship whilst hoping to come back.
That said, there's still lots to enjoy for those who prefer Wade's heavier side, and she draws on a big range of influences here. ‘Time To Love, Time To Kill' has a shouldn't-work-but-does feel, with its melody switching between grunge and a rollicking barroom vibe that contrasts the knowing, bittersweet lyrics (and has what's possibly Wade's most country vocal ever). Elsewhere, ‘Hansel And Gretel' pairs pulsing drums with a yearning to go back to the early days of a relationship, whilst ‘Reality' has an almost Western swing feel alongside the pleading quality of Wade's vocal and lyrics referencing James Dean, Frank Sinatra and ‘lingerie on the floor', and the strings of the folky, detailed ‘Halloween' add a folk-influenced vibe.
For me some of the album's most powerful moments come when Wade gets reflective. ‘Department Store' is an early highlight that sees her looking back at her younger self and using her addictions to help herself feel less different. There's a real tenderness about it that makes you feel warm towards her and I liked the bluesy guitar effects as well. Meanwhile, ‘Walk On Water' – a piano-led duet with Ke$ha – packs a real punch as Wade confronts her urge to drink as she wrestles with treating an ex badly, and their voices blend beautifully together as they sing ‘hearts like mine don't do well with time', and ‘Crossing State Lines' delivers drama in spades with its delicate piano building into wailing guitars and drum rolls as she regrets the loss of her relationship. Wade's willingness to open up and confront your own shortcomings has always been one of her strengths, but on this record it feels like she's being a lot kinder to herself and it's all the better for it.
The album closes with ‘Deconstruction', which once again harks back to 90s rock and sees Wade almost relaxing into the security of a new relationship. ‘I finally feel seen', she sings, with a tremble in her voice as if she can't quite believe she's found a soft place to land. With high notes, pulsing drums and crashing piano chords, it's a truly heartfelt song that sees her celebrating finding her safe place to land in a quiet way, and the gentleness of the lyric only adds to its impact.
Overall ‘Obsessed' feels like another step forward for Wade, keeping the rocky and raw elements fans loved from her previous albums but also growing into herself as a songwriter and embracing a softer, more romantic feel. She really comes on leaps and bounds with every project and this should have plenty to like for long-time fans whilst also helping her find a new audience. There's also a lot of stuff here that's going to sound great live, and personally I'm keeping everything crossed she comes back this way soon so we get to hear it!
Track listing: 1. Total Control 2. Department Store 3. Time To Love, Time To Kill 4. Obsessed 5. Juliet 6. 2AM In London 7. Hansel And Gretel 8. Spin 9. Reality 10. Walked On Water (featuring Ke$ha) 11. Halloween 12. Crossing State Lines 13. Moth To A Flame 14. Deconstruction Record label: Ladylike Records/Sony Music Entertainment Release date: 16th August 2024
