Picking up where we left off.
>>225
I've obviously sung endless praises for the album
Surrender, so there's no need to retread what's already been covered. Maggie Rogers's early work merits a closer look, especially
The Echo, which she wrote and recorded as a high schooler. The album is standard Folk music, with its strength lying in the lyrics; rough around the edges and struggling to discover her strengths. The standout track is the closing tune, "Satellite," tastefully arranged with a piano, violin, and trumpet. Maggie croons about longing for a moment of reprieve without indulging in maudlin sentimentality. "Embers", "Wolves" and "Deep in the Earth" are also very worthy:
https://maggierogers.bandcamp.com/album/the-echo
Blood Ballet continues where
The Echo left off. While a little more consistent, the album lacks a strong emotional centerpiece like "Satellite" which leaves me yearning for more. That said, it still features great tunes like "Resonant Body", "James", "Drift", "Little Joys", "Anybody" and, of course, the highlight "Symmetry":
https://maggierogers.bandcamp.com/album/blood-ballet
Finally, we have her previously unreleased Shoegaze EP that appeared on
Notes from the Archive: Recordings 2011-2016. According to her commentary, the end of a two-year-long relationship inspired "Together" and likely "One More Afternoon". She still yearned to be together with her man while he chased his dreams beyond the Rockies. Thoroughly emotional and utterly engaging.
Unfortunately, much of these intense emotions would be somewhat flattened on the major label debut
Heard It in a Past Life and first EP
Now That the Light Is Fading. Despite strong tracks like "Light On", "Fallingwater", and "Dog Years", the album suffers from sterile production values and underwhelming instrumentation.
Honey, I know you've been shaking
Sick and awaiting vacation
But I could be your heron blue sky
I could be your white night lullaby
Wrap me in celadon and gold
Wrap me in celadon and gold
If you want me
Would you call me?
Would you call me?
If you want me
And maybe I'll wait for a cold day
Shiver in sheets until you say
Through your silent heat
"Won't you pilot me?"
Ooh, ooh
If you want me
Would you call me?
If you want me, oh
If you want me
Would you call me?
Would you call me?
If you want me
If you want me
Would you call me?
If you want
-
I was losing you in greys and blues
A winter sky, I never
Want to know the risk
Inconsequential views, I never knew
Could play that part when I was
Walking through the park
And I
Would paint the clouds away
If I could
I would
Take it slow walking home
Remind you all that we could be
Together
Holding hands while marching bands sing
Loud choruses of the future
Together
And all that's good and fine
But, darling, I'm still terrified
That you'll choose Los Angeles over me
I'm staring at my toes
If only I could make them go where'd I'd be
Happy
And you say
That you'd never stay
Wait, we could
Take it slow walking home
Remind you all that we could be
Together
Holding hands while marching bands sing
Loud choruses of the future
Together
Together
Together
-
[i]I never told you 'bout the green in your eyes
Watching you sleep through 2008 skies
But it's over
Maybe some other time
We always said we'd meet up in the city
Tell of our lives since that virgin kiss
Oh, such a long while ago in my mind
First love, gone too soon
I wish that I could
Sit with you
For one more afternoon
First love, gone too fast
I think of you like we were last
Alive, and you're in love, and in the side
One more afternoon
One more afternoon
One more
One more
One more
Maybe in ten years I'll think about now
And I'll learn that you're always with me somehow
Always in my mind
First love, gone too soon
I wish that I could sit with you
For one more afternoon
First love, gone too fast
I think of you like we were last
Alive, and you're in love
Alive, and you