Posted on: August 23, 2014 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

It’s All Pretend is a catchy effort that allows Maggie Anderson’s vocals and instrument to shine brightly. This track has hints of Yael Naim, Ingrid Michaelson, and She & Him, with some of the most tender and softly-stated acoustic guitar work. The track’s charm ensures that listeners will be singing along whenever the track comes up on their MP3 player. You’ll Be Around is a sea change from It’s All Pretend as Anderson speeds up her delivery. By bringing in more complex time signatures, the track is able to shine amongst other the works of contemporary performers. The sheer confidence that is present on You’ll Be Around is endearing, while the acoustic guitar work provides both string and percussive elements to the mix.946216_685475694800746_975421123_n

These Are The Nights blends together the styles and approaches taken during It’s All Pretend and You’ll Be Around. Anderson’s mastery of tempo during this track makes this into the EP’s strongest effort. While the track continues to succeed in the singer-songwriter paradigm, I feel hints of a pop-punk (Alkaline Trio, Bayside) delivery peppering the track. While Anderson’s vocals are dominant during These Are The Nights, the guitar work plays an absolutely vital role in highlighting and further pushing the vocals to a higher plateau.

Anderson’s website contains information regarding live dates, links to her varied social media profiles, and a way to receive a free download of one of Anderson’s tracks. Here’s to hoping that Anderson is able to expand the styles and approaches that she broached on this all too brief EP to a full-length album, as I plan on warping these tracks through the rest of the year.

Top Tracks: It’s All Pretend, These Are The Nights

Rating: 9.0/10

Maggie Anderson Self-Titled (Acoustic) EP Review / 2014 Self / 3 Tracks / https://www.facebook.com/MaggieAMusic / http://www.maggieandersonmusic.com/

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