Country star Megan Moroney released her third studio album, “Cloud 9,” on Feb. 20. Its daydream-like album cover, with layers of baby pink, beaming lights and a ladder to the heavens, illustrates the beautiful message of self-discovery she had interlaced throughout her songs. Each track seemed to represent a crucial stage in her life, making this one of her best albums yet, as it included more personal stories and elements that resonated deeply with audiences. Common themes of love, marriage, revenge, cheating and ambition were ingrained heavily into her work, similar to her past albums. However, it also showcased an alternative side of her that contradicted the heavy emo-cowgirl vibe that the rest of her discography maintains.
The overall lyricism and storytelling aspects of this album seemed to be more mature and real than her previous works. Lines like “They’re gonna take your place in line / So, work ’til it kills you, but don’t actually die” from her track “Liars & Tigers & Bears” hit deep, especially for people who struggle with the feeling of having to be “on” and high-performing all the time. The universal theme of burnout and exhaustion was cleverly portrayed through the intense representation of her experiences and emotions as an artist in the wild world of the music industry. This concept is something I think many DV students struggle with, and this song could really help voice some of the struggles they face. The comparison with the wild animals was a smart wordplay choice, as it emphasized how she felt hunted by society and suffocated under the world’s external pressures. By discussing topics usually rooted in judgment when openly discussed in public, it felt like a breath of fresh air to listen to someone sing about more realistic things like mental health, rather than just about finding fairytale love or having an intense breakdown over not getting the guy.
Her collabs also felt quite intentional as she brought on artists like Ed Sheeran and Kacey Musgraves, adding an extra layer of familiarity to her album. Though these singers are big in the music industry, each track they were on still remained true to Moroney’s music roots, and instead of overwhelming the track with crazy riffs and runs, they highlighted Megan Moroney as a whole and pieced her together, track by track. For instance, in “Bells and Whistles” (Ft. Kacey Musgraves), the track explores relationship dynamics and the idea of moving on from someone, and Kacey Musgraves’s deeper, more mature voice added to the storytelling impact aspect of the song. Her background in the country and Americana genre as well as her Grammy-winning work, granted her expertise in the area, enabling her to cross-collaborate with Moroney and create something special for both their audiences. Similarly, Megan Moroney’s collaboration with Ed Sheeran titled “I Only Miss You” highlighted her emotional longing for the person she loved and lost to someone else. His voice added to the emotional impact on listeners, emphasizing the song’s male perspective, too. Not only that, but the lyrics were very purposeful and conveyed the story in a delicate manner, strengthening both their voices and making the track more dynamic.
All in all, this album was a great one to listen to, and I highly recommend it to all country music lovers and anyone interested in exploring a new genre of music. If you like Kacey Musgraves, Dolly Parton or Sabrina Carpenter, you are sure to enjoy this album too. Happy listening!
