Maps of Norway Break Up

Download: Maps of Norway - "Manners"
Download: Maps of Norway - "The Runout"
Download: Maps of Norway - "Strict Ritual"

City Pages got the news that MPLS-based neo-new-wave quartet Maps of Norway, who only last year put out their second record, Die Off Songbird, have decided to call it quits, citing personal satisfaction with their recorded output and general fatigue.

Directly from the City Pages piece:

Why the decision to call it quits now, so hot on the heals of your well received Die Off Songbird?

I think everyone has their own reasons and feelings to an extent. For me, I think the real reasons bands break-up is when you're satisfied with something...But, also, there's just a lot of life factors that go into it. People start wanting to do different things in life, maybe get a little sick of not getting home until 4AM after a show....at the same time, I'm very proud to have been in this band and I feel like we accomplished way more than we could have hoped for when we began.

Well, ain't that a shame? Seems like the band had a lot going for it. Still, as one K. Rogers said, you gotta know when to hold them, fold them, etc. We wish the band well in all of its future endeavors. In the meantime, listen to their great single from 2008's Songbird, called "The Runout," along with two other tracks, courtesy of their label, Guilt Ridden Pop.

Maps of Norway's last show will be in April @ the Turf Club

Maps of Norway MySpace Page

Tonight: Maps of Norway CD Release Party

Download: Maps of Norway - "The Runout"
Download: Maps of Norway - "Strict Ritual"

Tonight
Turf Club
9 p.m.
ST PAUL MN

Maps of Norway Die Off Songbird CD Release Party.

Maps of Norway
Gospel Gossip
Unicorn Basement MySpace Page
Strut & Shock

Tonight: Maps of Norway on "The Local Show With Chris Roberts"

Download: Maps of Norway - "The Run-out"
Download: Maps of Norway - "Strict Ritual"

As you may know, Maps Of Norway are having releasing a new record titled Die Off Songbird, which they will be celebrating the release of on October 10th. If you want to hear more from that record, then The Current is your place to be. First off, the band's first single from the album, "The Runout", was a Current Song of the Day. Furthermore, the band will be on the The Local Show With Chris Roberts, which airs on 89.3 from 5 pm to 6 pm.

Die Off Songbird is out October 10th.

Maps of Norway MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)
jon@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com

New Maps of Norway - "The Runout" and "Strict Ritual" (Plus: CD Release Party at the Turf Club)

Download: Maps of Norway - "Strict Ritual" (live)
Download: Maps of Norway - "The Runout"

Just last week, it looked like Minneapolis-based proto-serious post-punkers Maps of Norway weren't going to be doing much of anything, what with having to drop out of the Nomo show due to drummer Jeff Ball's recent injury. However, in terms of album and music announcements, the band still has lots of activity left in them.

Via a MySpace Blog Post, Maps of Norway announced that they had posted two new songs on their page. These two songs, "The Runout" and "Strict Ritual", are from their new, upcoming record titled Die Off Songbird, which will be released by Guilt Ridden Pop on October 10th. A CD Release Party will take place at Turf Club.

As far as the tracks themselves go, "The Runout" begins with a series of rim shot clicks not unlike The Dodos great song from this year, "Fools" and a bassline that's pure joy (Division). However, instead of multi-culti prog-folk, Maps of Norway opt for more New Wave friendly territory, with singer Rebecca Leigh sounding quite a lot like Blondie's Debbie Harry. Chiming guitar chords and a mournful vocal help give "The Runout" a romantic vibe, while the aforementioned bassline keeps things moving before the explosive chorus. The band's nu-new-wave-isms are not new, but the group writes engagingly melodic music that's hard to resist.

Speaking of which, have you checked out the beat to "Strict Ritual"?

Listen to songs here, or listen to a live version of "Strict Ritual" up at the top of the post. Check out an MP3 of "The Runout" at the top of the post as well.

Die Off Songbird is out October 10th.

Maps of Norway MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Tonight: Ouija Radio At The Turf Club

Download: Maps Of Norway - "Manners"
Download: The Chambermaids - "Park"
Download: Ouija Radio - "Today Is Our Last Tomorrow"

Judging from the news on the Ouija Radio website, things are winding down a little bit for the post-post-punk quartet, at least on the musical front. But before the band members go back to their...what are they called again? Lives? Yeah, that's the ticket. Before they go back to their lives, they'll be doing some rockin' on the hometown front. Said rockin' includes tonight's show at the Turf Club with Maps Of Norway, The Chambermaids and The Jacobins.

Coincidentally, three out of the four groups playing tonight are either working on, or getting ready to write, new material. Maps Of Norway are currently recording new material, Ouija Radio will be writing their follow-up to Oh No...Yes! Yes! during 2008, and The Jacobins are working on material to put on an upcoming EP. So no matter what time you show up, you'll undoubtedly be amongst the first to hear exciting new music from local groups.

Show starts at 9, is 21+ and will set you 5 bucks. Listen to music from three out of the four groups at the top of the post.


Ouija Radio MySpace Page
Maps Of Norway Myspace Page
The Chambermaids MySpace Page
The Jacobins MySpace Page


(Jonathan Graef)

Band To Know: Maps Of Norway Post Live Show Online (With A Little Help From Their Friends)

Download: Maps Of Norway - "Traffic"
Download: Maps Of Norway - "Marathon" (New Song, Live at Big V's)

Minneapolis-based, post-punk inspired quartet Maps Of Norway are an intelligent group of people. One can tell simply by reading this witty disclaimer that's part of their MySpace bio (written by STNNNG's Chris Besinger, a man who definitely has a way with words):

Post-Punk, Post-Rock, Post-Post-Punk, what post are we at now? Is it still after the last thing or is before the next one yet? Is that bass line retro-ironic or proto-serious? I cant even tell anymore.

Whether or not Maps Of Norway are "retro-ironic" or "proto-serious" is an issue that can be discussed at another time. What one can immediately discern is that sharp, bass-driven hooks, sultry vocals and metronome tight drumming propels their tunes well past the point of mere casual listening, especially in a song like "Traffic".

Simply put, you probably want to hear them play songs live.

Well, being the smart people that they are, MAR, with the help of the good people at Warning Of The Ships, have decided to put up an entire live show online for you to download. WOTS posted this about a month ago, but it's still definitely worth listening to.

The show took place earlier this summer at Big V's and contains material from 2006's Sister Station as well as brand new material, including the opening song, "Strict Ritual", which combines Joy Division/New Order-style angst with an more open-ended, post-rock jam.

You can hear "Traffic", from last year's Sister Station and "Marathon", a moody little number with a slinky bassline and guitar harmonics similar to Sonic Youth, at the top of the post.

To hear the rest of the set, head on over to Warning Of The Ships.

Buy Sister Station here.

MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)