Riverside, CA trio Map is made up of Josh Dooley (guitar and vocals), Trevor Monks (drums) and Paul Akers (keyboards). Having never heard the band before, I really don't know how this album compares to the older ones. What I do know about this EP, is that it stays on the map of indie rock quite faithfully, yet stays far enough away from any fortified settlements along the way -- except for San Francisco – to be of interest to selective music lovers.

'Breakfast At Ikea' kicks off the EP with a dancey beat and immediate signs of keyboard frequency. 'San Francisco' speeds things up just a little, with it's quirky guitar lines and robust keyboard padding. 'Au Bord De La Mer' (French for "at the edge of the sea"), a song about making the most of your future, reminds me somewhat of self-titled-era Blur. Amidst the dynamic-light 'The Art Of Living,' Dooley states "Behavior, not feelings / Less taking, more giving / The art of living." 'Know You, Never Knew You' is the slowest Map get, but they stick to the same route. 'Rachel Dreams' closes the disc off instrumentally, employing a drum machine, ambient guitars and keyboard to give off a dreamy feel.

Map draws similarities to Starflyer 59 at several points (Jason Martin produced the EP), yet the songs are more upbeat and poppy, bringing to mind The Smiths and even Death Cab For Cutie at other points. Though you shouldn't expect to hear a knock-off, if you're into any of the previously mentioned bands or earlier Brit-pop, you might want to check out Map.