Damn The Maps

CD - Input Output

Play 90 second soundbite of 'All Aboard' @ 'CD quality'

'Input Output' is the debut album release from Australian melodic indie rocksters Damn The Maps; a real polished and ballsy work that properly pushes indie into rock territory and brings rewards for its individualistic approach and sound. Massively enjoyable and, for me, right on the money, 'Input Output' is pretty much an unbeatable work and its certainly very unputdownable! And, 'Input Output' by Damn The Maps will have global appeal; this album would work anywhere in the world and grace anybody's collection. As good as it gets, 'Input Output' is a distinctive and inspired work by a band that seem to have everything ready and waiting for a move on up into the higher echelons of the music business - fantastic stuff!!

Damn The Maps' 'Input Output' rings the indie rock changes with kerranging guitar chords, blinding riffs and gritty fills striding out atop of some great work by the rhythm section that sets the pace with atomic-clock precision as bass and drums punctuate as they drive. Stunning vocal work is the sensationally sweet icing on the already sumptuous cake here; descriptive and emotionally charged voices croon, cry and growl out the excellent lyrics. Musicianship apart, Damn The Maps wouldn't work without great songs and here they show, and leave no doubt whatsoever, that they can indeed pen outrageously exciting songs that compete easily with the best there's been - the whole thing coming together beautifully and setting a high standard for their contemporaries to match. Damn The Maps are probably one of the best and most rockingly astute outfits I've heard coming out from 'down under' for donkey's trousers!

'Input Output' also benefits from the degree of variation it contains; 'light and shade' only goes part-way to describing Damn The Maps continually flowing style - like a deep, dark river that, when you're navigating it, is in a constant state of change - fast and flowing one minute, slowly ebbing the next, frequently broiling into whirlpool or eddy, big, adrenalin pumping rushes of 'white water' frequently followed by calming pools of serenity and respite. Damn The Maps certainly know how to compose exciting and interesting music and their delivery of that music is nothing short of brilliant.

To pull out individual tracks for discussion or comment would be not only difficult but pretty futile; 'Input Output' is rammed with great songs (fourteen actually!), each has, quite obviously, been given great consideration and commitment during its gestation and recording phases. And, that well considered crafting, layering, mixing and mastering has resulted in a fine example of modern indie rock music to challenge anything currently out there! 'Input Output' by Damn The Maps' is pretty damn stunning! 'Input Output' is the real mutt's nuts of modern indie rock music - superbly conceived, wonderfully crafted and stunningly executed - certainly better by far than most and definitely as good as the 'big boys'!

'Input Output' by Damn The Maps is a massively competent debut album - it doesn't sound or feel like a first offering and its scary to wonder how Damn The Maps will manage to follow this quite brilliant album! I love what Damn The Maps are doing, I love their organically grown music, I love their ability to capture and hold the attention and I simply love 'Input Output' to bits!!

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