A year after the release of The Variety Show Volume One, Maggie Rose is back with another EP. Volume 2 of The Variety Show never appeared, but this could be seen as the second volume. This one doesn't have 'variety' in the title, but Rose has continued her pop influenced country sound, adding a little variety into country music. It completes Rose's transition from more traditional to more varied, and solidifies the vibe of the new and improved Maggie Rose.
The EP kicks off with "Too Many Love Songs." This song echos the message delivered in last year's "Heartbreak Radio," but this song is done better. Rather than going straight down the line and telling the story of a broken-hearted girl turning on the radio and hearing a song (a story that's been told too many times on country radio over the years), Rose hits the idea straight on the head rather than dancing around it. "There's too many love songs," she sings, straight-up. Comparing this song to "Heartbreak Radio" is a perfect way to show how Rose has changed as an artist over the last year. She's more bold and forward now, and it suits her. This new approach to lyrics and production feels more authentic.
"Body on Fire," the lead single, is a bold and important song. Women in country music are often limited to a specific set of topics they can sing about: being scorned, crushes, stupid love songs, and more recently, girl power songs. But women singing about sex as openly as this song does? That's not very socially acceptable yet, which to be frank, sucks. Maren Morris is one of the few that's been trying to make it more the social norm recently, and it seems like Maggie Rose is the next one in line. It's ridiculous, how men are able to sing about sex as openly as they do — just look at Jason Aldean's "Burnin' It Down," Chase Rice's "Ride," and countless others — but women aren't encouraged to do the same. Well, Rose is breaking that boundary with this song. Good for her. It's about time.
"Body on Fire," the lead single, is a bold and important song. Women in country music are often limited to a specific set of topics they can sing about: being scorned, crushes, stupid love songs, and more recently, girl power songs. But women singing about sex as openly as this song does? That's not very socially acceptable yet, which to be frank, sucks. Maren Morris is one of the few that's been trying to make it more the social norm recently, and it seems like Maggie Rose is the next one in line. It's ridiculous, how men are able to sing about sex as openly as they do — just look at Jason Aldean's "Burnin' It Down," Chase Rice's "Ride," and countless others — but women aren't encouraged to do the same. Well, Rose is breaking that boundary with this song. Good for her. It's about time.
The title track, "More Dreams Than Dollars," continues with the theme of being as candid as possible. Rose speaks of her experiences as a musician, trying to make it in Nashville. It's not always glamorous, she reveals with lyrics like, "counting quarters in the ashtray," and "got my threads at the Goodwill." For those who don't pay attention to the music industry, it seems like all glitz and glamour. Rose clarifies that misconception on this catchy country-pop track.
The final two tracks, "I Won't" and "We'll Grow out of It" are very contrasting sound-wise, but both have big, anthemic choruses that close off the record nicely. "I Won't" is a little more twangy and bluesy with some serious sass throwing back to Rose's "I Ain't Your Mama" days. "We'll Grow out of It" takes a bit of a turn towards pop-rock, alluding towards the state of our world with the lyric "generations keep blaming the ones that came before." This song is left a bit up to interpretation as to its meaning, but that's what makes it so interesting.
What sets Dreams > Dollars apart from her debut record and The Variety Show, is that this EP feels truly and unapologetically hers. It's been a bit of a process for Rose to get here from her more traditional-flavored major label album, but it has been worth it. Released independently, this five-song project is honest and shows grown-up Maggie Rose who just wants to make music.
Best tracks: Body on Fire, We'll Grow out of It
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 ½ crowns
The final two tracks, "I Won't" and "We'll Grow out of It" are very contrasting sound-wise, but both have big, anthemic choruses that close off the record nicely. "I Won't" is a little more twangy and bluesy with some serious sass throwing back to Rose's "I Ain't Your Mama" days. "We'll Grow out of It" takes a bit of a turn towards pop-rock, alluding towards the state of our world with the lyric "generations keep blaming the ones that came before." This song is left a bit up to interpretation as to its meaning, but that's what makes it so interesting.
What sets Dreams > Dollars apart from her debut record and The Variety Show, is that this EP feels truly and unapologetically hers. It's been a bit of a process for Rose to get here from her more traditional-flavored major label album, but it has been worth it. Released independently, this five-song project is honest and shows grown-up Maggie Rose who just wants to make music.
Best tracks: Body on Fire, We'll Grow out of It
Throwaway tracks: none
Overall rating: 4 ½ crowns
RSS Feed