Think Like an Owner
Track Listing
- 16 Jackies (3:15)
- Vixen (4:06)
- Legal and Tender (2:38)
- Pistols and Pearls (2:49)
- Silhouettes (4:40)
- Over My Shoulder (3:09)
- Girl (1:35)
- 3 of Clubs (3:43)
- Familiar Skin (4:38)
- No Strength (3:34)
Album Review
Well I was very excited when I saw that Jason Martin of Starflyer 59 produced this album, it definitely has his fingerprints all over it. It almost makes you think that Josh Dooley is his apprentice in training, Josh writes some very mature and sophisticated songs just like Jason that can't be denied. After quite a few listens, I'm still torn on how I feel about this album. I know I like it, but I can't help think that over time I will lose interest in it. Don't get me wrong, Think Like An Owner has a few great songs on it. For instance, the laid-back tune "Girl" has a gorgeous melody that carries the listener away, but it ends after a minute thirty or so, which I find very frustrating. I wish the whole album sounded similar to that tune. Another great song is "Familiar Skin," the drum beat may be the backbone to this one, but as usual Josh's guitar work stands its ground. Even the songs that I'm not that fond of, Josh's guitar work is good enough to keep me interested.
I wish Map would have decided to rock out a little more on this effort. One thing that Map has going for them is that they are such good musicians that even though this effort leaves me in so-so land, I know that I will be picking up their next release to see how this band has grown and matured since this release.
For Fans Of: Ester Drang, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Verve, Starflyer 59, Luxury, Blur, and Ghost of the Russian Empire.
A Second Look
Josh Dooley's guitar playing gives Think Like an Owner much of its character. A small melodic turn can catch the ear before the vocal arrives, and the space around those lines matters as much as the notes themselves. Map keep the arrangements tidy, allowing the guitar to suggest a mood without burying the songs beneath effects. The result is an understated record whose most appealing details tend to emerge gradually.
The connection to Starflyer 59 is easy to hear in the measured delivery and the way the guitars balance brightness with melancholy. Yet Dooley has his own touch. His playing is often light and conversational, supplying a second melody rather than simply thickening the chords. That approach gives these songs an inviting surface even when the performances remain emotionally reserved.
"Girl" makes the strongest case for Map's economy. Its brief running time leaves little room for development, but the melody has enough warmth to make the song feel like a discovery. There is a reasonable argument for wanting more of it; there is also something effective about letting an attractive idea end before it becomes familiar. Its small scale provides a useful contrast with the longer "Silhouettes" and "Familiar Skin."
"Familiar Skin" benefits from the relationship between the beat and Dooley's guitar. The rhythm supplies momentum while the guitar gives the song its personality, making it one of the clearest examples of how well this band can work within a restrained arrangement. The production leaves those parts distinct, and the record is strongest when that clarity reveals a memorable melodic exchange.
The same restraint can hold the album back. Map sometimes settle into a comfortable middle distance, where the playing remains attractive but the songs need a stronger change of pace or a more decisive vocal hook. The guitar work offers reasons to return, though it cannot always supply the lift that the writing needs. Listeners drawn to the atmosphere may find that consistency reassuring; others may wish the band would take a few more chances.
Think Like an Owner succeeds as a modest, carefully played collection with several moments of real charm. It makes no grand gesture toward the listener. Instead, its appeal rests in a short melody, a well-placed guitar phrase and the quiet pleasure of musicians who understand how to leave one another room.
Map • Artist Homepage
