April 24, 2012

By Christine Cauthen

Cryptic lyrics and haunting vocals are nothing new for Chicago band Maps and Atlases, a little indie group with a whole lot of soul. _Beware and Be Grateful_ is the second full-length album from the band, though it has released a semi-large collection of EPs over the years.

_Beware and Be Grateful_ starts off with “Old & Gray,” a song with many layers. Its more upbeat tempo throughout the first few minutes pull the listener in, while the lyrics about lost-love and memories-since-forgotten make the song relatable to listeners. When you think the song is about to end, the melody takes a turn from its briefly whimsical feel to a much slower pace. Dave Davison begins to wail the lyrics “When you are old and gray/ I hope that someone holds you/the way that I would” simultaneously breaking hearts of listeners everywhere and astounding them with his amazingly unique vocal tone and range.

The band seamlessly transitions into “Fever,” the second song of the record, which turns the vibe back around and brings the tempo up to speed. This more upbeat tone stays fairly consistent throughout the album, right up through the last song “Important.”

_Beware and Be Grateful_ is the kind of album a band would be excited to debut live. The building guitar chords and driving drumbeats are reminiscent of their earlier work, with a slightly bigger production sound. The band isn’t for everyone, but their newest LP might be the most widely accepted because of its tropical-poppy-indie-rock tendencies.

For new fans of the band, _Grateful_ is a perfect introduction to learning to appreciate the band. For people who have listened to them for a while, this release may take a while to grow to like. The texture of the album is a lot smoother than past productions, blending the band’s traditional tone with a more poppy, catchy way of going about things.

Old fans shouldn’t completely shy away in fear of the poppy turn taken by the traditionally un-poppy band. Despite being more inviting, the band still produces unique music that can’t quite be accurately compared to any other band.

_Beware and Be Grateful_ is certainly an album fans and new listeners alike can be grateful for.