When a soul knife rogue uses his psychic blades, he can use his normal and bonus action to attack with the blades. But, the wording on the two attacks is slightly different.

With the attack action, the wording states "Whenever you take the Attack action, you can manifest a psychic blade from your free hand and make the attack with that blade. This magic blade is a simple melee weapon with the finesse and thrown properties."

For the bonus action: "After you attack with the blade, you can make a melee or ranged weapon attack with a second psychic blade as a bonus action on the same turn, provided your other hand is free to create it."

For the bonus action, a melee attack is specifically mentioned, but it is not mentioned for the attack action. Can a rogue make a melee attack with psychic blades as part of their normal action (without getting the normal penalty for using a ranged attack when within 5 feet of an enemy)?

The DnD Beyond character sheet lists both the attack and bonus attack psychic blade as a ranged attack.

And, I just noticed that answer to my own question: "The magic blade is a simple melee weapon."

The character sheet listing the attack as ranged was throwing me off, and I completely missed the description of it as a melee weapon.

<thumbs up>

sometimes you just need to 'put it out there' and clarity will come. 

:o)

Relatable

It is a ranged attack as well, as it has the "thrown" property. Just like handaxes, daggers and javelins, they can be used as a melee attack, or thrown for a ranged attack. 

So yes, you can make melee attacks without the disadvantage, as it is melee weapon.