Map – Think Like An Owner

Map
Think Like An Owner

I’ve got quite a few CDs by the band Map, including 2 EPs “Secrets of the Highway” and “Eastern Skies, Western Eyes” and this full length album “Think Like an Owner”. I always sort of pegged them as shoegaze, but this album seems to feel quite a bit different. There’s a bit of retro 80s feel to the songs and many of the tracks appear darker in tone.

Josh Dooley leads the quartet Map with his slightly angular harmonies. The musicians are excellent at attaining a dreamy blend of slightly distorted guitar and splashy drums. But the slower songs on the album (like “Girl”) are surprisingly tender and show the band is capable of slower poppy stuff too.

I like the bratty harmonica and urgent drums in “Legal and Tender” which rocks pretty heavily. “Silhouettes” would be straightforward guitar rock (reminds me of Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box in feel for some reason) but for a more poppy, beautiful chorus with the voices of Heather and Josh.

Sample tracks from Map:
16 Jackies – Think Like An Owner CD
Legal and Tender – Think Like An Owner CD

by Bryan