For many, it is extremely difficult to find something that grabs them in the ever so glossed modern Pop music world. A time where Pop music, by and large, has been homogenized to auto-tuned vocals, superficial lyrical content, and vacuous personalities… thankfully there are some artists on the fringe who are different. Steering clear of such tropes, to name a few, you have talented performers such as Brittany Howard, Ingrid Michaelson, Meg Myers, as well as Maggie Rogers.
Rogers, a singer-songwriter with a vast higher education in music, has been in the game for over a decade now. First releasing music independently, prior to signing on with Capitol Records, an intelligent young woman, her partnership with the major label is licensing agreement where she releases music through her imprint Debay Sounds. Giving her more control over her own artistic direction, in her time with Capitol she has released two extremely impressive albums. First, her 2019 debut Heard It In A Past Life made it to 2 on the US Billboard 200, on its way to earning Rogers a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. Then, 2022’s Surrender expanded upon her sound and found acclaim among critics and listeners worldwide.
A great introduction for Rogers to more mainstream audiences, now in 2024 she prepares to build on previous momentums with her third overall studio album, Don’t Forget Me. Set for release on April 12th, Don’t Forget Me finds her exploring different approaches both in the form of the writing and recording processes. A good way to keep things fresh, for Don’t Forget Me she opted to treat the writing and recording more as a stream of consciousness. With this, she wrote the 10 songs that make up the album over a five day period. Writing 2 songs a day (3 days in December of 2022, 2 in January of 2023), this is important to point out, because the album plays out in a way that is extremely natural. In fact, you feel as if you are out for a quick cruise chatting casually with Rogers herself. Her intent, the songs are meant to fit the framework of a legitimate road trip where you are with your friends, listening to music, and telling stories of your own experiences.
A neat little concept, what transpires along this journey is a mix of Pop tunes that are easy listening, yet not without substance. Upfront is Rogers’ voice while a mix of guitars, drums, and electronic elements meld together. Catchy, melodic, and keeping you enthralled, the sound is modern, yet amply mature in the many aspects of the word.
For example, “It Was Coming All Along” draws you in, before the more guitar driven “Drunk,” followed by “So Sick of Dreaming,” and “If Now Was Then” keep you enticed. However, some of the most striking moments here would have to be the stripped down “I Still Do,” where Rogers’ pours out her heart vocally in front of a singular piano in the distance, along with “All The Same,” which features a similar approach. Filled with beauty, the honest truth is these particular songs standout vividly because of the more upbeat Pop ones surrounding them. Fully dynamic, Rogers proves that Pop music can still hold weight if it is done right.
Overall, Maggie Rogers’ Don’t Forget Me is a delightful collection of songs that is bound to please anyone looking for something more. Her songwriting (featuring co-writing collaboration on 8 of the 10 songs with Ian Fitchuk) is exceptional and something that should be widely recognized. That is why Cryptic Rock graciously gives the efforts put into Don’t Forget Me 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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