San Francisco in the 90's
Track Listing
- Breakfast at Ikea
- San Francisco in the 90's
- Au Bord de la Mer
- The Art of Living
- Know You, I Never Knew You
- Rachel Dreams
Album Review
Map has delivered what I consider their most diverse and cohesive album to date. This time around, Josh is backed by a new cast: Paul Akers (keyboards) and Trevor Monks (drums). Map has delivered an infectious combination of good songs with great awareness of where Map has been. They have moved forward without sounding like they are trying to capture past musical accomplishments.
San Francisco in the 90's still sounds like the Map we have grown to love. But now they seem re-energized and focused. The change in line-up has really helped bring out Josh's strengths as a songwriter. The disc starts off with "Breakfast at Ikea." The song begins with great melody and has a smooth rhythm to it. The piano really adds a lot to the tune. The title track, "San Francisco in the 90's," is another comfortable jam that slides along with a repeating guitar riff that sounds almost a little too familiar. But Josh offsets that with his smooth vocals and a definite determination that refuses to go unnoticed.
"The Art of Living" is easily my favorite track. It has a nice comfortable groove to it. It moves along so effortlessly, making me wonder why Map has flown under the radar for so long. They are a band that deserves to be recognized and praised. "Rachel Dreams" is an instrumental closer. It has this almost techno beat that lingers throughout. It's a great way to close things out.
If this album has a shortcoming, it's the fact that it's way too short. The EP barely clocks in over 15 minutes. But with that being said, it shouldn't deter you from checking it out. Map has really come into its own. It's time for them to really start to get recognized throughout the music industry.
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
Map sound particularly comfortable working on a small scale. Across the six songs of San Francisco in the 90's, Josh Dooley gives his melodies enough room to settle without asking them to carry elaborate arrangements. The playing has an easy flow, but there is purpose behind its restraint. Guitar, keyboards and drums share the space, and the songs benefit from how naturally those parts fit together.
"Breakfast at Ikea" makes a welcoming introduction. The piano adds warmth and movement, softening the edges of the guitar without drawing attention away from the tune. There is a lightness to the performance that suits Dooley's understated voice. The title track follows with a repeating guitar figure whose familiarity is part of its appeal, although it also points to the record's occasional reluctance to venture beyond comfortable territory.
"The Art of Living" gives the EP its strongest center. Its relaxed groove allows the melody to arrive without being pushed, and the musicians resist cluttering the song as it develops. Dooley's guitar has a clear identity here: expressive in small gestures, attentive to rhythm, and capable of adding a melodic detail that makes the next pass through the song more rewarding.
The brief format also gives the closing "Rachel Dreams" a useful role. Its instrumental approach and electronic pulse shift the focus from songwriting to texture, suggesting another direction without stretching the record out. After the preceding songs, that change feels like a thoughtful closing move. Map leave the listener with a different shade of their sound rather than simply repeating the opening mood.
The limitations are mostly a question of scale and contrast. The EP ends before its ideas can develop into a larger statement, and the restrained vocals sometimes need a stronger hook to match the appeal of the playing. Yet its modest ambitions are well judged. The arrangements remain clear, the melodies are inviting, and the band rarely lets a passage overstay its welcome.
San Francisco in the 90's captures Map at a point where musical assurance and economy work well together. Its best songs make the band's unhurried approach feel generous, with enough detail to reward another listen. It is a concise, quietly engaging release that makes a convincing case for Dooley's melodic instincts.
Map • Artist Homepage
