New Album Review: Maggie Rogers- Surrender

Maggie Rogers- Surrender

Label: Capitol

Producers: Maggie Rogers, Kid Harpoon, Del Water Gap, Gabe Goodman

A slew of world-changing events separated the release of Maggie Rogers’ first and second proper LPs, and while Surrender certainly evokes plenty of the emotions that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, the album boasts just as much confident resolve and conviction as it does contemplation and uncertainty. No, Rogers doesn’t know what the future holds for the world we live in, or for the relationships she examines in these songs. She instead presents them with an unbridled sense of where she wants them to go and the non-negotiables she won’t waiver on as she trudges forward. Tracks like “Overdrive”, “That’s Where I Am”, and “Anywhere With You” make it clear where she currently stands with her emotions and intentions, and while she wants more than anything to feel them reciprocated by her partner, you’re still left with a sense that she will accept and carry on resiliently regardless of the outcome. The elegantly urgent and marvelously delivered “Horses” feels like the fever pitch of that explosive feeling of a crossroads in a relationship. It’s clear how badly she desperately wants to walk that journey with her lover by her side, but it’s never a sign of weakness or compromise on her part, yet rather a symbol of strength in being that vulnerably honest and raw with another person. The stripped and stirring finale, “A Different Kind of Girl” is most potent however given that it transitions to addressing issues on a global scale. Once again, Rogers knows what the true solution is (kindness and decency); it’s just a matter of who will join her in that mission. Sonically, the record is just as captivating as it is emotionally and topically. Rogers employs a wall of thunderous sound that pulls from a well of genres spanning electronica, alternative, folk and pub-rock (Spoiler alert: “I’ve Got a Friend” is a sterling highlight where these two sounds intersect beautifully). But it’s the undeniable anthemic pace, thumping production, and unrelenting hook-laden nature of the affair that defines this album at the core as unapologetically pop. Pop music for adults that is, which is of course a crucial and rewarding distinction to discern. It’s often incorrectly dismissed in today’s music climate that hooky soundscapes and intelligent composition don’t mix, but that’s often when both qualities are most powerful. On this masterful sophomore effort, Maggie Rogers further establishes herself as a vibrant leader in this theory, yet another important cause she shall continue to contribute towards in critical fashion.

Track Listing:

1. “Overdrive” (Maggie Rogers, Kid Harpoon)
2. “That’s Where I Am” (Rogers, Harpoon)
3. “Want Want” (Rogers, Harpoon, Samuel Holden Jaffe)
4. “Anywhere With You” (Rogers, Jaffe)
5. “Horses” (Rogers, Harpoon)
6. “Be Cool” (Rogers, Harpoon)
7. “Shatter” featuring Florence Welch (Rogers, Harpoon)
8. “Begging For Rain” (Rogers)
9. “I’ve Got A Friend” (Rogers)
10. “Honey” (Rogers)
11. “Symphony” (Rogers, Gabriel Bennett Goodman)
12. “Different Kind of Home” (Rogers, Harpoon)