Wikipedia

Psychopath (album)

Psychopath is the third studio album by American country music artist Morgan Wade. It was released on August 25, 2023, through RCA Nashville. The release was recorded immediately after her breakthrough Reckless[3] and received positive reviews from critics.

Psychopath
A photo of Wade set on glass shards from a broken mirror
Studio album by
Morgan Wade
ReleasedAugust 25, 2023 (2023-08-25)
RecordedMid-2022[1]
StudioCurb Studios and Sound Emporium, Nashville, Tennessee, US
GenreCountry music
Length47:54
LanguageEnglish
LabelRCA Nashville, Ladylike Records
ProducerSadler Vaden
Morgan Wade chronology
Reckless
(2021) 		Psychopath
(2023) 		Obsessed
(2024)

“I wrote ‘Psychopath’ before Reckless actually even came out. It was one of those songs for me where I just sat down, wrote it, and was done in one take. I came up with that song and memorized it immediately. I never wrote it down. Then I had it and was like, ‘Okay, this one sticks.’ It stuck in my head. I’ve always wanted to put [the term] ‘psychopath’ in a song. You especially don’t expect a country song to be called ‘Psychopath.’ So for me, it was taking that with [the thought of], ‘I love you so much’ and ‘what was I doing before I met you? I don’t even remember a time before you. We are crazy, and this is different, but I love you.'”

—Wade on writing and recording the title track to Psychopath[2]

Content

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Wade co-wrote all 13 tracks on Psychopath, and Sadler Vaden produced the project.[4]

Reception

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Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter gave this album three out of five stars, praising tracks that "highlight Wade’s clear, tough, yet emotional vocals" and the songwriting, but criticizing that "the album would be better if draped in starker surroundings for a less-is-more appeal".[5] BrooklynVegan included this among their 13 Great Country Albums from 2023, with critic Andrew Sacher writing that "Morgan has a way of blurring the lines between country traditions, punk grit, and pop appeal, but more important than any of her stylistic choices is just how strong her songwriting is... the way she turns a phrase and delivers a melody will catch you off guard on first listen".[6] A profile of Wade by The Los Angeles Times included the assessment by Jewly Hight that this music has an "alpha attitude and potent vulnerability make for one of current country music’s more bracing dispatches".[7] John Amen of No Depression stated that this album "continues to display [Wade's] versatility, crafting accessible narratives while reveling in textbook hooks" and "highlights her broadening range and skillful integrations of country, rock, and pop elements".[8] In The Sydney Morning Herald, Robert Moran rated this album four out of five stars, praising Wade's songwriting abilities and how among "songs touching on her wobbly relationship with addiction, she cuts an edgy figure among her clean-cut, all-American country cohorts".[9] Poppie Platt of The Daily Telegraph gave Psychopath three out of five stars, ending that it "may not thrill the country purists out there, it’s a promising next step for an artist who could be well on her way to making the rare crossover into the mainstream charts".[10]

Track listing

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Psychopath track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Domino"
3:27
2."80's Movie"
  • Wade
  • Vaden
3:51
3."Losers Look like Me"Wade3:29
4."Roman Candle"Wade4:07
5."Guns and Roses"
3:36
6."Alanis"
  • Wade
  • Hemby
  • Vaden
4:26
7."Phantom Feelings"
3:52
8."Psychopath"Wade3:28
9."Outrun Me"
3:47
10."Want"
3:32
11."Fall in Love with Me"Wade3:15
12."Meet Somebody"
  • Wade
  • Vaden
3:19
13."27 Club"Wade3:43
Total length:47:58

Personnel

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Chart performance

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Psychopath reached sixth place on Billboard's Top Heatseekers[11] and 45 on Country Albums.[12]

Chart (2023) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[13] 45

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Caramanica, Jon (August 15, 2023). "Morgan Wade Was Looking for the Spotlight. It Found Her". The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 1645522. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Liebig, Lorie (December 21, 2023). "Morgan Wade Shares the Story Behind Her Romantic Title Track 'Psychopath'". Features > Interviews. American Songwriter. ISSN 0896-8993. OCLC 17342741. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Liebig, Lorie (August 24, 2023). "Morgan Wade Pushes Her Own Boundaries with 'Psychopath'". Features > Interviews. American Songwriter. ISSN 0896-8993. OCLC 17342741. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Anderson, Liza (July 20, 2023). "Morgan Wade Unveils 'Psychopath' Tracklist". MusicRow. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Horowitz, Hal (August 23, 2023). "Review: Morgan Wade's 'Psychopath'". Reviews > Album Reviews. American Songwriter. ISSN 0896-8993. OCLC 17342741. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 22, 2023). "13 Great Country Albums from 2023". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Hight, Jewly (August 23, 2023). "Morgan Wade isn't going to let anything stand in her way. Least of all those tabloid rumors". Music. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. OCLC 3638237. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Amen, John (August 23, 2023). "Morgan Wade's Voice Punches Through on 'Psychopath'". Reviews. No Depression. ISSN 1088-4971. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Moran, Robert (August 27, 2023). "It's been a big year for Morgans in country music, this one trumps the lot". Sydney Morning Herald. ISSN 0312-6315. OCLC 226369741. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Platt, Poppie (August 25, 2023). "The week's best albums: Alice Cooper scrapes the barrel with macho clichés and misogyny". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. n.d. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  12. ^ "Top Country Albums". Billboard. n.d. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  13. ^ "Morgan Wade Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard.
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