THE MAP IS NOT THE TERRITORY

For some reason, Cloudkicker seems best suited to short-form albums rather than longer ones. His music is intense and focused, and drawn out over too long a period of time and it loses momentum. "Map" does a good job of taking his original album, "The Discovery" and distilling it down to its roots. Taking awake the segues and structure, instead he presents us with five, standalone songs, each to be judged on its own merits. His musicianship and songwriting are just as fantastic as on his debut. "Hold On" has some wonderful anthemic passages woven into the mix, and "Tip Your Van Driver" sports some solid, intriguing rhythmic schizophrenia that shows me he's still playing, and writing top-notch. "Ever Thus to Deadbeats" is also a fantastic song, and more than justifies the length that separates from the other four pieces. My only complaint on this album is that Cloudkicker hasn't messed with his sound at all--"Map" and "Discovery" could easily be on the same album. This album (I don't consider it an EP--Cloudkicker's albums are, by necessity, short) is a wonderful piece of progressive/post-metal/groove fusion, and since it's free, what have you got to lose?