If you saw Maps & Atlases walk on stage, you'd think that it was the guys from Napoleon Dynamite who had just walked in holding guitars, drums, and a glockenspiel. What will mystify you, however, would be when they started playing, because you have to imagine at this point what it would sound like if you developed four add children into musical virtuosos, had them overdose on pixie sticks, and told them to write indie pop sounding songs. Or you could imagine what it would sound like if The Shins played technical music. The best part of it all is that it would make you incredibly happy to both watch and listen to them do it.
The Chicago based group's release, "Trees, Swallows, Houses," is packed with 7 rhythmically complex and melodic tracks bound to keep you on your toes for the entire EP, which is less than a half an hour in length. The first track, "Every Place Is A House," takes no shame in showing off the melodic, virtuosic guitars and bass, and the shift in time signatures by their incredibly compelling drummer. The vocals of Dave Davison, however, are what create a sense of accessibility to an otherwise overwhelming, but pleasant, sound.
The album will take several listens in order to pick up on the subtle nuances, because it's all over before you realize it and you won't know what just hit you. They are the only band I have ever heard the crowd cheer for what seemed like five minutes after they were finished playing. As of June 19th, Maps & Atlases was a pleasant surprise, and has become one of my new favorite bands of the year.
Other notable tracks are: The Ongoing Horrible, Big Bopper Anthems, The Sounds They Make, and Songs for Ghosts.
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