A double album on your second release? It was a bold move by Morgan Wallen to double-down on the success of his debut record with Dangerous: The Double Album (2021), but it turned out to be one that paid off in a major way. The album topped both the country and pop charts and became a landmark record for the country genre in the streaming era. Total it up and there are 30 songs on Dangerous (15 on each album). Let’s start some arguments by ranking all 30 songs on the record(s).
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30. “Beer Don’t”
No song on this record is an out-and-out clunker, but this feels like filler.
29. “Neon Eyes”
This one tried to do something a little different, but doesn’t quite get there.
28. “Me on Whiskey”
The problem with having so many songs on the record is that you start getting the same ideas rehashed.
27. “Your Bartender”
See No. 28.
26. “Wasted on You”
This was a big hit, but it’s a bit formulaic.
25. “865”
A fine lament; when he sips bourbon, he thinks Knoxville…because of that Knoxville girl he drank bourbon with and wants to see one last time.
24. “Rednecks, Red Letters, Red Dirt”
Other songs on the record convey the idea behind this song much more artfully.
23. “Somethin’ Country”
This one has a clever premise but comes off a bit generic.
22. “More Surprised Than Me”
The narrator has out-kicked his coverage in terms of his significant other. A nice, if a bit inconsequential, tune.
21. “Blame It on Me”
A kiss-off song, but not at all mean-spirited, which makes it go down smooth.
20. “Warning”
This one sustains its mood very well, and Wallen’s singing in the bridge is some of his best on the record.
19. “Still Goin‘ Down”
There’s a little bit of Bob Seger in this ode to small-town life, which is always a good thing.
18. “Heartless (Wallen Album Mix)”
Solid, but the attempts to turn it into more of a country track by removing the Diplo production robs it of some of its flavor.
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17. “Need a Boat”
Cool guitar work and a clever way of attacking the overused boat theme characterize this one.
16. “This Bar”
In this case, the bar takes on a life of its own as a home away from home for the narrator.
15. “Livin’ the Dream”
It’s not easy to sell the whole “I’m a superstar, woe-is-me” sentiment, but Wallen gets it done. The cool musical effects added to this one make it an engaging listen.
14. “Dangerous”
Title aside, this one finds the narrator showing restraint in terms of his reaction to his heartache. Wallen’s way with mid-tempo songs like this is what helps him cross over so effectively to the pop world.
13. “Whatcha Think of Country Now”
We have a soft spot for this groover about a girl who falls in love with the bucolic lifestyle, if only for the line Halfway down your first country mile.
12. “Somebody’s Problem”
A gentle change of pace. Wallen makes us believe that the narrator is aware enough to see where this romance is heading, and yet he dives in anyway.
11. “Outlaw” feat. Ben Burgess
Wallen gets some able vocal help from Ben Burgess, as the song takes outlaw clichés and turns them on their ear when it’s revealed that the true desperado is the woman who left the narrator behind.
10. “Country A$$ Shit”
The key to this kind of song working is that the singer needs to deliver it with tongue firmly in cheek. Wallen has a blast with this one, which works its groove all the way home.
This is one of many Wallen co-writes on the album, and those songs tend to have a strong lyrical theme. In this case, the narrator sees the wind as the catalyst for his wayward lover.
The narrator has to tell his significant other that her wanderlust is a dealbreaker, since he has to stay close to his roots. Whether you agree with the sentiment, it’s hard to deny the catchy mid-tempo arrangement and winning melody.
7. “Silverado for Sale”
Put this one down in the long line of songs about memorable vehicles, a la “Long May You Run.” The narrator has to sell his beloved truck to buy a wedding ring, but he doesn’t do so without paying tribute.
6. “Sand in My Boots”
Wallen has a knack for conveying genuine regret and sorrow in his vocals, which is kind of a prerequisite for a country superstar. The narrator is obsessed with a romantic memory and can’t figure out why he can’t call it back to life.
5. “Cover Me Up”
This beauty penned and first performed by Jason Isbell would be hard to mess up. Wallen wisely plays it straight and puts the focus on the beauty of the words and melody.
4. “Whiskey’d My Way”
Wallen brings impressive vocal authority to this tale about the titular alcohol and how it’s the only thing that will help the narrator. When he sings about the whiskey as a solution, he keeps it coy enough that you can’t tell if it’s triumphant or pathetic.
3. “Only Thing That’s Gone” feat. Chris Stapleton
There are a bunch of different barroom laments found on this record. The best one is this beauty, which gets a boost from Chris Stapleton in the second verse. Imagine the bartender listening to these two guys sing him their troubles.
2. “7 Summers”
This feels like country’s answer to nostalgic ‘80s hits like “Summer of ’69.” A social media push helped convince Wallen to release the song, and that proved to be a wise decision.
1. “Quittin’ Time”
In our opinion, Wallen saved the best for last, doing a tender job on this song that was co-written by fellow country superstar Eric Church. It’s a winner of a weeper that Wallen tackles with soul.
Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
