I’m a music critic who often writes about country, but I’ve never met Morgan Wallen. I’m texting today because it’s time to change that

I’m the Problem has 37 tracks, one more than your previous LP and seven more than Dangerous .

You've had more songs on the charts simultaneously than any other artist, and some of the biggest singles too, with your duet with Post Malone last year .

You dragged the country audience into the streaming era almost single-handedly.

You apologized immediately, but for some months —in the year after the George Floyd protests, the Morgan Wallen business was nominally shut down for a few months .

You agreed that this particular shit was way worse than dumb, and repented your ignorance.

You met with some Black leaders and made some big donations (or at least you say so). You also asked your fans not to defend your actions, though lots of them seem not to have listened.

There are strains in the music there of the folkie protest-song tradition, along with some blue-collar rock.

The tone carries on in the It’s not just my fault, you were there too mode of “ I Had Some Help ,” and Post Malone isn’t around this time to leaven it.