| | Full Review | Ratings (124) |
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| 4.0 excellent | patrickfannon | April 11th 12 |
Lush, rich, textured, and simply overflowing with beautiful noises from every which direction, Beware and Be Grateful sounds like Maps & Atlases finally breaking free from any constraints of identity and simply allowing themselves the space to let their songs breathe. More mature and restrained than Perch Patchwork in many ways, the record still finds a measure of wildness, expanding horizontally instead of reaching for those vertical peaks of dizzying math riffs. In many ways, this record reminds me of Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism, not least of which is the astounding quality and coherence as an album, flowing serenely, intuitively, and gorgeously through to the bittersweet end. Beware and Be Grateful is not an album to be missed in 2012.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | Clancyboy | April 15th 12 |
This is by far the laziest thing they've done as a band. I wasn't expecting them to put out another album as great as perch patchwork but to drop everything and write a pop album is unbelievable. I'm glad that they want to keep changing their sound but they shouldn't forget the real mathy, rich songwriting they used to do so well.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Julianna Reed EMERITUS | April 22nd 12 |
Maps & Atlases trade in their mathy bravado for something a little more cozy. Beware & Be Grateful is indicative of a band aware of their technical capabilities, but even more aware of the power of restraint. However, the trip isn't as memorable as it could have been due to some pacing problems.
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| 3.0 good | jungletiger | April 20th 12 |
It's weird to me that people didn't like perch patchwork because I loved it. They put all there strengths into rone album. Poppiness (but not too poppy) and math, and they did it really well. Beware and be grateful rthough, seems to have went too far with the pop. They are not a naturally poppy band and it doesn't really fit rthem to sound like kings of leon. That being said, it's a good effort but i expected more.
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| 2.5 average | Oswig328 | April 16th 12 |
Album has it's moments, but their production choices leave a lot to be desired. The drums have a huge, round, 80's-type sound and there's an increased emphasis on electronics compared to the (usually) interesting guitar playing. Virtually all the folky charm from Perch Patchwork is gone.
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| 0.0 | Thomas S. | April 11th 12 |
Beware and Be Grateful is DaveyBoy's new favourite record.
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| 0.0 | fuckthatnoise | April 6th 12 |
their best yet. eagerly awaiting the shitpiles of comments from butthurt "fans" who were hoping for Tree Swallows Houses Part 2.
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| 4.5 superb | SpoonerMcgee | April 6th 12 |
Wow, what a leap. Beware & Be Greateful finds Maps fully realizing their indie pop sound and creating an album that is both poppier, but more dense than Perch Patchwork. Despite the album's straightforward mid-tempo approach, the band has more talent than it knows what to do with and thus, created an album that really pushes the listener to digest it in it's entirety. Every song has it's own very distinct feel, but together it all makes for a very cohesive listen that deserves to be played all at once and multiple times in order to take in it's awesomeness. A true unconventionally beautiful album
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| 4.0 excellent | Mcginnjw | September 23rd 19 |
| 5.0 classic | cdborys | October 11th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Fujay | November 2nd 14 |
| 3.5 great | elry2k | October 11th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | YojUg | July 13th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jaime | April 9th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Samus27 | November 20th 13 |
| 3.5 great | OmegaX | November 2nd 13 |
| 2.5 average | Ulshad | July 3rd 13 |
| 2.0 poor | ILJ | July 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Acre | April 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Rudy K. EMERITUS | April 22nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | foxxxy | April 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | LOL poo | April 18th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mttgry | April 9th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Rowdy | April 6th 12 |
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