Morgan Wallen got what he wanted out of “I’m The Problem”; the album ranks number one on Apple Music and holds eight songs in the Billboard Top 100, and Wallen’s tour will most certainly sell out globally. Yet, the country music star leaves traditional fans wanting more. 

On “One Thing At A Time” — Wallen’s 2023 album — the songwriter began to blur the lines of the genre, blending together hip-hop, pop and country on tracks like “Last Night,” “You Proof,” “Cowgirls” and many others. Wallen’s tactic worked, as his album amassed nearly 500 million streams in the first week — the most in country music history — and the top four most-streamed songs all had strong elements of hip-hop and pop. 

But a shift seemed imminent leading up to “I’m The Problem.” The enigmatic, polarizing 32-year-old made headlines after leaving Saturday Night Live abruptly, before quickly posting the message “Get me to God’s country” on his Instagram story. He then appeared on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast, where he expressed his desire to refrain from trap beats and return to more traditional country music. 

“[On] my last album, I had plenty of trap beats. This time, I wanted to tone that back a little bit. I’m tired of hearing it. So if I’m tired of it, they’re probably tired of hearing it too,” Wallen said on “This Past Weekend.”

Despite his quotes, the Tennessee native reneged on his word; a dozen of the 37 songs on “I’m The Problem” don’t classify as country music, with many others walking a fine line.

Wallen fails to establish a clear theme throughout the album, instead falling victim to the repetitive cliches and sweeping generalizations that many country artists rely on. “Love Somebody” is the most obvious example, in which Wallen expresses his desire to find “something more than just a crazy night” — someone whom he can “take on back to [his] hometown.” But it’s hard to believe Wallen after he made headlines for his run through a litany of college girls in 2021, most of which was captured on video. Or after social media star Paige Lorenze reportedly broke up with Wallen for cheating on her.

It’s not just “Love Somebody.” “Come Back As A Redneck” and “Don’t We” are other examples, in which Wallen expresses his distaste towards the fast-paced nature of city life. But Wallen was arrested in 2024 for throwing a chair off of the roof of Eric Church’s bar. And in 2020, he was arrested at a separate Nashville bar for public intoxication and kicking glass items. 

The incidents stand in stark contrast to the down-to-earth, small-town-living persona Wallen portrays in his music. His behavior makes the message feel disingenuous and inauthentic, spewing formulaic imagery, surface-level sentiments and recycled narratives rather than lived experiences and emotional depth. 

Despite the overwhelming presence of trap beats and overused generalizations, Wallen still produced many hits on “I’m The Problem.” Albeit, it would be hard not to do so in a 37-song album.  

Standout songs

“Jack and Jill”: Wallen cleverly repurposes the classic nursery rhyme to tell the story of an American couple spiraling into heartbreak. Just out of high school, the pair quickly fall in love. But soon enough, separation, alcohol and pills bring “their whole world tumbling down.” References to the nursery rhyme are frequent, calling Jack’s alcohol “Crown,” and having the pair fall “downhill,” this time figuratively, not literally. In an album full of trap beats and autotune, “Jack and Jill” stands out for its natural, country vocals and keen wordplay. 

“The Dealer”: Teaming up with his best friend Ernest, Wallen uses “The Dealer” as a double entendre — both as God and a card dealer. The duo has “a million questions” about why there are struggles on Earth despite their belief in God. But they come to realize they must “spend more time talkin’ to the dealer than worryin’ about the hands [they’re] dealt.” Wallen and Ernest’s “The Dealer” is all I could ask for in a country song: beautiful vocals without autotune or an overpowering beat, and a strong, creative message.

“Number 3 and Number 7”: After the duo’s “Man Made a Bar” broke records in 2023, Wallen and Eric Church reunited to make another wonderful track. The title requires some decoding: “Number 3” refers to Dale Earnhardt Sr., one of the all-time great NASCAR drivers, and “Number 7” refers to Jack Daniel’s Whiskey. Through strong metaphors, Wallen paints a vivid picture of teenage recklessness, channeling the false sense of invincibility that often comes with youth.“Number 3 and Number 7” vocals may be the best on the entire album. Wallen returns to his typical country twang, with Church’s rough, gravelly voice contrasting beautifully.

Long gone are the days of ten-song albums with a clear throughline and synchronized style. “I’m The Problem” crams 37 tracks, ranging from trap-beat rap to autotuned pop to traditional country twang. Wallen’s vocal talent is clear, but to reach his full potential, he needs to cut his albums to a more digestible length and return to his traditional country twang. The Grammy-winning artist is growing his brand and expanding his audience, but it has come at the expense of his true fans. 

“I’m The Problem” has its fair share of stellar songs but comes with a scattered style and an unclear theme.