Surrender

I've been a fan of Maggie's major 2019 debut for years, but regrettably never dove fully into her 2 most recent albums. Surrender really impressed me, having only really been familiar with the singles ("Want Want" is a bop). The album is rich, multilayered, full of substance. It has the same kind of dreamy indie pop textures as Heard it In a Past Life, but this time around they're paired with a more mature alternative rock sound. Maggie's vocal performance has a versatility throughout big maximalist numbers like "Shatter," campy acoustic moments in "I've Got a Friend," and restrained yearning in "Anywhere With You." There's an almost folk-like candor in her voice overlayed on the big production that reminds me of Katie Gavin on MUNA's self-titled record released the same summer.

Maggie has described this project as an exercise in "feral joy" and it comes across. The songs retain the catchiness of her previous album, but with a new sense of self-assurance. I'm excited to work through the rest of her discography.