I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen – Album Review

I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen – Album Review

Overview

Well, well, well… we’ve officially arrived at everyone’s favorite polarizing country megastar’s fourth studio album. Two years after the commercial juggernaut One Thing at a Time, Morgan Wallen is back in the mainstream country conversation (not that he ever really left) with his 37-song project I’m The Problem, released on May 16. Clocking in at just under two hours, the album has—as expected—drawn a wide range of responses. Critics and country traditionalists argue he’s diluting the genre, while other fans embrace his boundary-pushing sound.

As we know, Wallen has never shied away from controversy—whether it’s tossing a chair off the rooftop of Chief’s or dropping a country album layered with trap beats. Leading up to the release, many assumed this album would lean more into traditional country sounds, especially after his interview with Theo Von. That assumption, however, didn’t hold up. Throughout the 37 tracks, the album feels split into thirds: one-third traditional country, one-third pop-country, and one-third trap-infused experimentation. Also, he’s admitted in the past that hip-hop has influenced him more than anything else, so it’s no surprise he continues to lean in that direction.

Lyrically, Wallen doesn’t stray far from his usual themes: whiskey, women, and heartbreak. Whether it’s “I’m the reason this didn’t work” or “she left me,” the sentiments are familiar and often resemble the “woe is me” attitude. I have also seen where some feel the album suffers from the weight of the singles that preceded it.

For many fans—including myself—release day was underwhelming. It initially felt like Wallen prioritized quantity over quality. And while that still may be partially true, after a few listens, the album has begun to grow on me. I think it’s important to take Wallen’s albums at face value: they’re meant to be fun, relatable, and heavily consumed—rather than dissected for deeper meaning. That said, there is some genuinely impressive songwriting and wordplay here, particularly from writers like Blake Pendergrass and John Byron, who shine across multiple tracks on the record.

We also need to temper our expectations that every Wallen album released post-Dangerous will live up to the near-perfect titan that Dangerous: The Double Album was—and still is.

As I said above, I wasn’t crazy about this album after my first few listens. But then I realized—who am I to criticize an artist for making music he enjoys? That’s what artists are supposed to do. Sure, there are tracks I don’t personally love, but clearly, there’s a demographic that does. Songs like “Kiss Her in Front of You,” and “Miami,” may not be my cup of tea, but they’ll resonate with others.

That said, I’m The Problem still feels more like a compilation than a cohesive album. That tends to happen with double and triple albums. However, in the era of streaming and with a growing audience discovering country music, this approach makes sense—especially for someone as commercially dominant as Wallen.

While I’m The Problem doesn’t quite rise to the level of Dangerous or One Thing At A Time for me, I do believe it’s stronger than If I Know Me. And as I continue to live with this album in the coming months, I suspect it’ll keep growing on me.

Below are a few highlights from the album that stood out to me.

Highlights from the Album

Before writing this review, I gave myself a sufficient amount of time to sit with the album this week and try to assess it fairly (music is subjective, after all). After 34 hours (and counting) of listening, here are a few of my standout tracks:

• “Superman” – My favorite song on the album. I’m a sucker for a wholesome, Dad-mode song. Co-written by Wallen, John Byron, Blake Pendergrass, James Maddocks, and Ryan Voltjesak, this track hits right in the feels. With clever lines comparing the bottle to Kryptonite and the “Man of Steel” brought to his knees, it’s emotionally powerful and perfectly written.
• “I’m a Little Crazy” – Probably the most traditionally country-sounding song on the album. The subtle production is a strength, and the lyric “I’m a coyote in a field of wolves” might be my favorite line of the year.
• “Kick Myself” – A pop-country track with melodic rap elements, tailor-made for summer playlists.
• “Come Back as a Redneck” (feat. HARDY) and “Don’t We” – These tracks highlight the duo’s shared love for their rural upbringings and country roots.
• “Jack and Jill” – A modern-day tragedy, reminiscent of “Whiskey Lullaby.” It features my favorite lyric on the record: “The preacher they used when they said, ‘I do’ is reading out of Psalm 23.”
• “Skoal, Chevy, and Browning” – A song about loyal friendships, and how everyone needs a friend that is “there in a pinch.”
• “TN” – As a Tennessee resident now, this one’s just a vibe. That’s all there is to it.
• “Just in Case,” “20 Cigarettes,” and “I Ain’t Comin’ Back” (feat. Post Malone) – Solid pop-country tracks, perfect for background listening.
• “Number 3 and Number 7” (feat. Eric Church) – A good song, though it doesn’t quite reach the heights of their previous collaboration “Man Made a Bar.”
• “The Dealer” (feat. ERNEST) – The most intriguing track on the album for me. Written solo by Blake Pendergrass, which is a rarity in today’s co-write-heavy country scene. Kudos to him—it’s an excellent track.
• “What I Want” (feat. Tate McRae) – A track gaining traction on Top-40 radio. Their voices blend decently, though McRae’s verse can come off a bit too polished and commercial. Still, it continues to grow on me with each listen.
• “Miami” – This one has received the most controversy and criticism—both from critics and fans. Wallen had teased a flip of Keith Whitley’s “Miami, My Amy” on Theo Von’s podcast, and many were curious. Ultimately, it hasn’t landed well with much of his fanbase, particularly due to the high-pitched repetition of “Miami,” which some have compared to Alvin and the Chipmunks. That said, some of my non-country music fan friends like it for its hip-hop leanings.

Closing Thoughts

This album has room to grow on me. With early streaming numbers already looking extremely strong, I’m The Problem will be the biggest country release of the year and a contender for Album of the Year.

If you haven’t heard the album yet, go check it out here. Also, feel free to explore some other reviews, like this one by Ryan Lippe from Country Central.

Below is my individual ranking of each song if you’re interested.

Overall Ranking: 8.4

1. Superman – 10.0
2. I’m A Little Crazy – 10.0
3. Jack and Jill – 10.0
4. Kick Myself – 9.9
5. Come Back As A Redneck (feat. HARDY) – 9.9
6. Skoal, Chevy, and Browning – 9.9
7. Just In Case – 9.9
8. TN – 9.8
9. I Ain’t Comin’ Back (feat. Post Malone) – 9.7
10. 20 Cigarettes – 9.7
11. Falling Apart – 9.7
12. I Got Better – 9.6
13. Don’t We – 9.5
14. Lies Lies Lies – 9.4
15. The Dealer (feat. ERNEST) – 9.3
16. Eyes Are Closed – 9.2
17. Love Somebody – 9.0
18. Number 3 and Number 7 (feat. Eric Church) – 9.0
19. Smile – 9.0
20. I’m The Problem – 9.0
21. Revelation – 8.8
22. Nothin’ Left – 8.6
23. Dark Til Daylight – 8.6
24. Whiskey In Reverse – 8.5
25. What I Want (feat. Tate McRae) – 8.4
26. Missing – 8.3
27. Genesis – 8.2
28. Working Man’s Song – 8.0
29. Leavin’s The Least I Could Do – 7.9
30. Drinking Til It Does – 7.5
31. Interlude – 7.3
32. If You Were Mine – 6.7
33. LA Night – 6.1
34. Crazy Eyes – 5.3
35. Where’d That Girl Go – 5.2
36. Kiss Her In Front Of You – 5.0
37. Miami – 2.6

Thanks for taking the time to read my review of I’m The Problem. If you would like to check out more content from Country Critique, click here. God Bless!