Morgan Nagler I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It
Maybe it’s because I listened to it on the snowiest day of our Denver “winter” (sarcastic airquotes my own), but Morgan Nagler’s “Grassoline” hit me as an early contender for 2026 Song of the Summer. The jangly ode to life’s greatest, greenest mood fixer feels like a 70s AM road tripper if indie rock (and acceptance of consumption) had hit the radio a half-century ago. “Grassoline” is just one of the eye-opening tunes on Nagler’s delightfully ramshackle debut record, I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It, a collection of songs sung by a woman being dragged into another phase of her life, whether she wants to go or not.
The path to Nagler’s first album under her own name has been anything but typical. The SoCal native spent her childhood and young adult years doing the SoCal thing – acting, appearing in projects as disparate as Highway to Heaven and American Pie 2. Songwriting followed (including a piece of a GRAMMY nomination for her work on Phoebe Bridgers’ “Kyoto”), as well as fronting LA bands Whispertown and Supermoon. With the kind of “Family Circus”-like path like Nagler has carved out, you stockpile two critical resources: life experiences and industry friends ready to lend a hand. Both play a huge role on I’ve Got Nothing to Lose. After a couple decades of helping others write their stories, personal catastrophe – the break-up of her engagement – insisted that she tell her own. Lead track/first single “Cradle the Pain” is full of molar-shaking guitar buzz and a squally Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) slide solo, adding heft to Nagler’s momentary ennui – “But the truth is a bother/When you’re letting it all/Slip away.” The next track, “Hurt,”, written with Suzy Shinn, welcomes more of those friends (Bethany Cosentino, Allison Crutchfield and Madi Diaz) in as Nagler boils down post-betrothal devastation to one staggering truth – “You don’t know love if you don’t know hurt.”
However, I’ve Got Nothing to Lose is not, by any means, a bummer break-up album. Nagler has made it this far with (some) hopes and dreams still intact. “Cradle the Pain,” penned with co-producer Kyle Thomas (King Tuff), also seeks blooms among the weeds – “Harvest the green, and in between/Pray a flower’s coming.” “Hammer & Nail” has Nagler this close to meeting those dreams, asking for just a bit of help – “Holding out for one divine hammer/And one believer nail.” And that buzzy summer song? “Grassoline,” written with Diaz (who’s also featured on vocals), certainly espouses a good buzz, but the song ultimately makes the singer responsible for her own happiness – “I know Jesus ain’t gonna save me/And if he does, that’d just be crazy/But God gave me a will divine to get by on my own.” As it turns out, Morgan Nagler is far from “losing it” – she’s actually piecing together something pretty spectacular.
Song I Can’t Wait to Hear Live: “Grassoline” – While Courtney Barnett supplies some pretty good riffs on “Another Mona Lisa,” it’s the spliffs that will stick with me.
I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It was produced by King Tuff and Morgan Nagler, engineered by King Tuff and Pierre De Reeder, mixed by Alex Farrar, David Spreng and King Tuff, and mastered by Joe Laporta. Songs written by Morgan Nagler, with co-writes going to Kyle Thomas, Suzy Shinn, Madi Diaz and Nick White. Musicians on the album include Nagler (vocals, guitar), Thomas (guitars, bass, vocals, Minimoog), Meg Duffy (slide guitar), Josh Adams (drums), Gabe Noel (bass, cello), Bethany Cosentino (background vocals), Allison Crutchfield (background vocals), Madi Diaz (lead and background vocals), David Spreng (Minimoog), Nick White (piano, Rhodes), Harrison Whitford (guitar), Courtney Barnett (guitar) and Oliver Hill (violin, fiddle).
Go here to order/stream I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It (out March 13):
https://www.hellomerch.com/products/ive-got-nothing-to-lose-and-im-losing-it
https://found.ee/morgannagler_ivegotnothingtoloseandimlosingit
Check out tour dates here: https://morgannagler.bandcamp.com/music