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National Music Reviews
Maggie Bjorklund
Shaken
Bloodshot Records
Street: 10.14
Maggie Bjorklund =
Julie Doiron +
Daniel Johnston
Although the material on Shaken stems from Bjorklund’s visits to her mother in the hospital before she passed away, this album maintains a more uplifting tone, despite some cumbersome lyrics (e.g. “Bottom of the Well”). This album was born to help heal the grief and deal with mourning, but songs like “Walking” are catchy enough to be a pop song, and “Name in the Sand” maintains a good, steady beat to hook you in. With a pedal steel guitar, Bjorklund has touched into the beauty of loss without being overburdening, and the stellar folk tunes that were created from this experience are sure to inspire many. –Brinley Froelich