Country artist Megan Moroney, an adept in the genre’s ability to twist a move of phrase and shift its meaning in unexpected ways, accomplishes precisely that on her sophomore album, “Am I Okay?”
It opens with the title track: “Am I Okay?” Megan Moroney, a legendary student of country music — and a master in the genre's propensity to twist a move of word and modify its meaning in startling and unexpected ways — accomplishes just that. It's a love song, a proclamation that maybe, just maybe, this cowgirl who's constantly singing the blues may now be in a good relationship and more confident.
While most of the tracks on this 14-track compilation meander into less cheerful territory, Moroney's growing confidence is heard where it counts most: in the power of her composition.
Not long ago, Moroney was a student at the University of Georgia, training to become an accountant and departing with a music business degree. While still in school, Moroney composed songs, played performances, and interned with Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, who’d eventually record her great first album, 2023’s “Lucky," one of AP's selections for best of the year, and this one. The rest, in many ways, is history: She exhibited a natural knack for composing — a style she's nicknamed “emo cowgirl” — eventually resulting to the career-making “Tennessee Orange," a sarcastic SEC football ballad that rapidly became omnipresent on country radio. Building from the success of a spectacular climb may be difficult. But she wears it nicely.
“Am I Okay?” is more broad than the album that came before it yet continues to develop Moroney's specific charms: There are rousing kiss-offs ("Man on the Moon") and soul-crushing ballads ("No Caller ID," the Vince Gill-assisted “Hope You're Happy,” and the particularly poignant, sorrowful “Heaven By Noon,” written about an uncle who died on 9/11.)
Pleasures abound: “Noah” smashes the fourth wall in a way that echoes one of Moroney's clear antecedents, Taylor Swift. “Miss Universe” features the finest Brad Pitt-reference in a pop-country song since Shania Twain's “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”
“Mama I Lied" is a full-hearted breakup song — complete with ascendent violins and Moroney's confessional rasp dominating the room. The lively instrumentation works: “Man on the Moon" is a rollicking, rocking country song, while “Indifferent” has moments of pop-punk perfection. You may also read this: My Way: Five Young Saudi Talents Share Their Vision
In all, “Am I Okay?” builds off the qualities of “Lucky,” and portrays an artist growing more bold in her skills — but not immune to the everyday inequities of being in her 20s, a period of terrible lovers and worse alcohol. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more relatable voice in modern country music for young ladies.
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