The self-proclaimed “emo cowgirl” Megan Moroney has released another album. When the album was released, the rumored subject, Riley Green, posted a new song on Instagram.
He sang, “You can drag every letter of my name in the Mississippi mud,” and that the subject of the song will never find another “low down, no-good, rusted truck driving, Waffle House eating, overall wearing, [expletive] like me”.
This alleged response song perfectly describes how Megan’s new album “Cloud 9” is able to capture the viewer’s heartstrings and make you feel her pain.
The ladder on the album cover seems to symbolize optimism. Megan looks back with a daring expression on her face. Her dress swirls underneath the clouds. Ultimately, the cover sticks with the theme of every album having its own color.
This is Megan’s first number-one album. I tested whether multiple songs on this album pass the “scream in the song car” test, and they do with flying colors. She is just as sarcastic and sweet as she has been on previous albums.
The first track is “Cloud 9”. The song is about bliss, when nothing can bother you because you’re in love. Although it’s the album’s title track, it is an okay song. She has many better ones that follow, so the title track kind of disappears in the back of a listener’s mind.
“Medicine” is a catchy, pop-country tune that makes light of the subject’s toxic relationship. You can hear Megan smiling while she pokes fun at what the boyfriend would do to apologize.
There are moments where Megan puts snippets of her talking that distract from the flow of the song and the good mixing, which takes more away from the song than it adds.
“Wedding Dress” is a bit painful, but the lyrics and the heartfelt nature are so good that you’ll find yourself replaying it. Moroney states that she fears being at the altar, and she thinks of her ex. The message is clear: Megan would rather be sad now than hold onto her past relationship.
In this song, Megan expresses a sort of clarity and desperation. “What if the missing you don’t ever go away? What if you’re burned into my brain?”
On “I Only Miss You,” Megan teams up with Ed Sheeran. I forgive you if you don’t recognize his voice on this track. This dark ballad is about drinking to ease the pain of a breakup.
Sheeran sings in a more country manner to match this country-pop star, but in the best way possible. Their voices work well together, and it’s great that Ed and Megan sing separately. The end holds optimism for the singer and her ex, singing, “See if overs really are over”.
Megan sings dejectedly on the chorus of “Who Hurt You?” “I guess I should’ve known. I’d be out here all alone.” She connects with the audience by being self-aware of their questions. She put it on the listener to hear her perspective, stating that if the listener had their partner fly a great distance to see them, they would be blinded by their devotion.
This song is Megan Moroney’s All Too Well. Although some might bemoan the old narrative of comparing female singers, Megan herself has said her favorite Taylor Swift song is All Too Well (10 Minute Version). Both songs are powerful, with alleged depictions of dating a man who is many years older than them. They share key changes for emphasis and some pockets of deep intensity.
Moroney ends her “All Too Well” much differently. While Taylor’s version ends by saying her ex lost “the one real thing they’ve ever known”, Megan’s ends on a sentiment that is honest and hilarious. She sings “I’ll move on, and I’ll find better, you’ll stay the same forever, and forever, happy never!”. It’s a perfect end to a sad story.
