For the past almost two years, Maggie Rogers has taken an unexpectedly special place in my heart and musical tastes. Upon reviewing her previous album, Surrender, because of the difference in style and sound to my usual tastes I was caught completely off guard.
Combined with just as unforeseen changes in my personal life, Surrender was an unfounded delight that chimed completely at that point in time. Now it’s not just an album, but a time capsule of those summer months of 2022.
Fast forward, and Rogers has provided another tapestry of sounds steeped in texture and personal depth with third album Don’t Forget Me. On Surrender, Rogers pushed her sound into a greater array of new styles around essences of her folk-dance origins. More synths, more upbeat and aggressive moods. Here, Rogers continues, but embracing a more live sound.
The result retains Rogers’ uncanny knack of capturing moments that feel entirely natural and human. But now they are more pronounced and immediate. This stems from Rogers and collaborator/producer Ian Fitchuck opting to largely use the live demos when putting the album together.
That live essence permeates every moment. Each track plays along with a pleasing warmth. Opener “It Was Coming All Along” serves as a perfect onboard, with rustic acoustic chords combined with a full bass and lofty synths which call back to Surrender.
“Drunk” and “So Sick Of Dreaming” follow, the former more up-tempo and edging into a new age Americana sound reminiscent of The War On Drugs. While Rogers’ vocals shine on the latter as the album takes shape.
Don’t Forget Me then reaches an early peak with “The Kill”. Full of momentum, it propels along at a steady pace while slowly shifting with touches of synth and keys on top of staccato guitar chords.
By the time the title track closes out with luscious piano chords and laid-back beat, it’s long been clear that Rogers has continued to hit her stride here. Don’t Forget Me is full of warmth and personable introspection at every turn. At times it dances along at a pace, while Rogers is just as unafraid to slow things down; she underlies her maturity and blossoming creativity as a songwriter.
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