4/5
Don't You...Forget About Maggie.
I don't know who needs to hear this, but I would never cancel restaurant reservations with Maggie Rogers, especially for Knicks tickets. They weren't the only ones who lost! These days, behind Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby and them, the New York Knicks aren't losers baby like Beck any more. But still, that's no excuse. Maggie Rogers is a winner too. Ever since going 'Alaska' viral at NYU with you know who. Following two independent inspirations ('The Echo' (2012) and 'Blood Ballet' (2014)), the indie-pop star's definitive debut ('Heard It In A Past Life', featuring smash singles and the still as fresh as the day I first heard her, 'Say It') was the album of 2019 as she garnered a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Two years ago (what...already), Maggie switched it up with a 'Surrender' to the dance-floor, freedom, the beauty of a lustful love and so much more. And now, giving us an album every other year, Rogers like Hammersmith is hammering it home for her third album (already). Cementing her big-three (don't you forget about the 'Notes From The Archive' collection either) and her place in pop prominence, like taking tambourine centre stage with Springsteen. All whilst giving us one of 2024's best, alongside Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' and the 'Visions' of Norah Jones. All before the 'Tortured Poets' of the star of stars Taylor Swift enters the department next week. Now, as you can see another fresh 'do from Rogers on the soon-to-be iconic album artwork of 'Don't Forget Me', how about this version of Maggie?
Yet she is 'So Sick Of Dreaming' like the second single and third track after the incredible introduction of 'It Was Coming All Along' and the great guitars of album highlight 'Drunk' on a sobering sonnet. "So you think you're on the right track/Cruising on the bridge in your gray Cadillac/You think it's easy/Walking on the water like there's steppin' stones/But when every little thing's up for takin'/Oh, it makes me want to sing, my heart's breakin'/Oh, there ain't no diamond ring you could buy me to take me home." This instant iconic number that feels like it's been doing them for years is now one of this amazing artist's strongest singles, like the porch light leaving 'Light On' and the wild 'Horses' that couldn't drag you away from the most romantic lyric about giving head. Let's see a Rolling Stone cover for the Capitol Records star, who is skirting scalpers with the more personal ticket sales for her newly announced tour in this twofer. No one holds the stage with so much grace as one of the most electric talents like Fleetwood or Florence. A straight-forward songwriting classic recorded track-by-track for the take at New York City's Electric Lady, this half-hour, all power, "rough journal entry" kills is, like 'The Kill' can attest. This top ten of "simple baselines" is simply beautiful, like the soul of Al Green. Going down easy like the Sunday morning beauty of doing the laundry and getting your apartment together to the end of the weeks reset. Singing along to 'If Now Was Then', "Standin' on the edge of our old corner on Broadway/I passed a couple kids and, oh, it felt like yesterday/That we were holding hands and walkin' right down 15th Street/The wind was in my hair and you had that red flush in your cheek, oh."
La Blogothèque, we hope you're getting the perfect place in Paris with amazing acoustics ready for a live performance of the piano perfect outstanding ode, 'I Still Do'. The beautiful ballad next classic of the 'Back In My Body' singer, saying "'Cause love is not a debt you pay/It's not something you can give away/Love is not the final straw/But it's always a reason to risk it all/Oh, it's true/At least the way that I loved you/Oh, and I still do", in a classic chorus of quotables. A message we all need to heed in this day and dating age. For all the notes this singer has in different strokes (like the 'On & On & On' spiritual sequel), let's not forget her greatest one. 'Never Going Home', 'All The Same' as, "Walk in and the world starts turning/I can't hеlp looking for you at the bar/Catch a glimpse of someone with kind eyes, dancing/Whose jacket's the same color as the seats in your car." Motel to open road, this is the American songbook penned by the likes of Dolly and Linda, that Shania and Sheryl stirred with their writing instruments. Now, finding her place, after the pixie blonde chased, sensational sophomore set, with this pure songwriting third for her Holy Trinity that really feels like music you have heard in a past life, she ends 'Don't Forget Me' with the first single of the same name that spearheaded this project. How fitting and how could we as she takes us back to her 'Dog Days' roots with a simple and beautiful video camera rolling home movie. "So close the door and change the channel/Give me something I can handle/A good lover or someone that's nice to me/Take my money, wreck my Sundays/Love me 'til your next somebody/Oh, but promise me that whеn it's time to leave/Don't forgеt me/Don't forget me." We never could. Unforgettable. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'So Sick Of Dreaming', 'Drunk', 'I Still Do'.
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