Some albums are meant to be fun, while others are beautifully done. Then there are albums by country singers like Megan Moroney that are also comforting like a confidante. Megan feels very relatable. Lucky is the title of her means “providential; meeting with unforeseen success,” though, so it’s a fitting title. There are many types of country music, and Moroney’s style in Lucky is young, spirited, and undeterred by anything. Originally from Douglasville, GA, Moroney attended UGA in Athens and moved to Nashville to truly begin her musical career.
Athens, GA has an interesting culture. The college, Georgia Square Mall, Bass Pro Shop, and Country Rock are landmarks that could summarize its current scene at first impression. There is also plenty of locally-owned barbecue, and many people love football. At night, though, you will encounter lounges and clubs to listen to local bands.
It seems Moroney had a great environment to keep her finger on the public pulse and stay in tune with what young adults enjoy listening to: Folk, Southern rock, and country with upbeat poppy rhythms from guitar and piano, “Another On the Way” is a cool track about hope that inspires you not to give up. The “…there’s another on the way” ending to each verse ties everything together with the lesson that many opportunities are plentiful. It’s a story where an older woman advises a younger woman not to limit herself to negative experiences. I understand why Moroney gets labeled with “Southern rock”: It’s a motivational song, meant to get the blood flowing. The southern rock playing is already a given.
Then there’s “Traitor Joe,” which is actually not about a man named Joe who is a traitor somehow. Instead, it’s about seeing Joe’s girlfriend cheating on him. Each verse ends with,” She’s a traitor, traitor, Joe,” hence the name. There’s no existential crisis as other people would have by not wanting to get involved and tell something the unfaithful partner should be doing themselves.
Upbringing is also important in the South. “Georgia Girl” is about being unique and unwilling to put up with infidelity. “Louisiana let you lie and 'Bama took you back/You were two-timin' Tennessee, she forgave you like that/Oklahoma ain't over you and California calls/When she's drunk and alone, Hell, I feel for 'em all/But I figured you out and you can't wreck my world/Guess you forgot, boy, I'm a Georgia girl”
“He Made Me Do It” is a tale of passion, where a woman had beaten her cheating boyfriend or husband. As she explains,” And my daddy woulda killed him/Momma woulda dug the grave/If they knew what he was doin'/Running 'round with what's-her-name/I'm not asking for forgiveness/I don't need to beat the charge/But believe me he's still breathing/Your Honor, he got off easy.” Not all areas have people who are content to not treat infidelity as a crime, and in “He Made Me Do Ir,” he got the lesser punishment.
Lucky by Megan Moroney can be a bright breath of fresh air, the kind of enthusiasm that helps us find meaning again in our lives. 13 is the fortunate number of tracks with several winners that could be at home in your car, a room with a close friend, a club, or a bar. They’ll often speak of seeing, doing, or experiencing harm at the hands of something harsh, but with an inner strength and a wisdom that realizes there’s still plenty of time.
Reviewed by Camille Perkins