Sophomore albums can often just be played out versions of the first, but that isn’t the case for Maggie Rogers. Rogers’ new release Surrender, though just now coming out in the latter half of 2022, may turn out to be one of the better albums of the year. Her first album came out in 2019, but now it seems Rogers has taken the appropriate time to properly refine her sound and to mature. If Surrender is to be an example of how quickly she can develop as an artist, then her growth his going to be very interesting to witness.
Rogers is an outlier in the music game, much of what she’s put out in Surrender unable to be replicated by anyone else
Maggie Rogers continues to play within her folk pop influence, but she manages to make everything she performs her own. There are also hints of alternative rock in the mix. In a way though Surrender actually sounds like new music, in the sense that what she’s thrown together almost hasn’t been done yet. She’s unlikely to dominate the mainstream radio waves or collaborate with a host of A list pop stars, but that doesn’t really seem to be her bag either. Rogers is an outlier in the music game, much of what she’s put out in Surrender unable to be replicated by anyone else. Her writing isn’t formula, she relies mainly on her vocals and traditional instruments, and she’s operating on a separate wavelength musically.
Some of her songs feature a more futuristic production quality, overlaying the guitars and drums with synths and a more pop-like vibrancy. There is very little editing on her voice, nearly all of the songs being led by her natural range and strong pitch. The track list is anything but basic, some songs upbeat others down, yet all consisting of substance. The album starts heavy with Overdrive, her voice distant in tandem with a memorable melody. This doesn’t set any specific tone however, as every song has something that sets it apart. Horses comes in a few tracks later relying more on an acoustic guitar, metaphorical lyricism, and an ultimate test of how far she can stretch herself when singing. Getting nearly all the way through to Symphony and then it almost sounds like a completely different album. This is one of the more distinctive of the collection in terms of writing and musical editing, nuanced and produced with the obvious intent of standing out.
Her last song Different Kind of World really says it all too. Post pandemic and with a new reality to confront, the closing track is a stark reminder of how much has changed. The future is uncertain, but at least one thing is for sure: Maggie Rogers is here to stay. She’s unconventional in the best way one can be, and if the 2020’s are indeed the return of the Roaring 20s then Rogers will undoubtedly have a hand in that before the decade finishes up. It may be too soon to start thinking about a third album, but Surrender will certainly have people curious as to where she’s headed before that time comes.
