Review: Morgan Wade’s ‘Psychopath’

MORGAN WADE
PSYCHOPATH
(Sony Music Nashville)
3 out of 5 stars

You can’t tell a book by looking at its cover, Bo Diddley so succinctly reminded us decades ago. That pertains to Morgan Wade, whose heavily tattooed arms/hands/fingers adorn the Black Mirror-styled cracked lens cover on her second album. 

It’s an imposing, punk-ish appearance that’s not representative of her music’s mainstream reach. Wade’s 2021 debut introduced her rugged persona, emphasized by meaty production from Sadler Vaden, pushing her into a ready-for-arenas guise. Despite a lack of pedal steel, fiddle or twangy roots, it received a clutch of nominations from such established country organizations as the Academy of Country Music (New Female Artist of the Year) and CMT (Breakthrough Female Video of the Year).

In the if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it spirit, Vaden returns, this time upping the overdubbed guitars and overall approach. That’s apparent on the opening “Domino,” which could slot into a ‘90s rock radio playlist next to Springsteen or Mellencamp. Wade leans towards coming-of-age stories, particularly in “Losers Like Me,” where she yearns to bring back those long-gone days, singing I wish I was still 16 / And I didn’t know the world was so damn mean / I wish I was naïve,as the guitars reverberate and the keyboards swirl. 

Even on ballads like the Natalie Hemby co-write “Guns and Roses,” which starts with Wade and a lone piano, Vaden adds a string section to a tune that finds the singer confused about a romantic interest. Just when I think we’re friends, all of your words turn to lead / Planting flowers in my head, aiming for love hitting me instead.

Thankfully the layers are stripped off to highlight Wade’s clear, tough, yet emotional vocals and pared-down backing on the title track and the pop lilt of “Fall in Love With Me.” 

The majority of these songs reach for the back rows. Although they are well-written, with hummable hooks supported by slick, professional assistance, and Wade remains a convincing singer, the album would be better if draped in starker surroundings for a less-is-more appeal.  

Photo by Matthew Berinato / Sony Music Nashville