Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Inside Out Music Visit Web Site
Tracks
1. Man In The Photograph 2. Wallflower 3. Map Of The Past 4. Clocks 5. Flag 6. The Big Machine 7. Cartoon Graveyard 8. Send No Flowers 9. Meadow And The Stream 10. The Last Escape 11. Exit Song
It Bites Map Of The Past
It Bites was formed in 1982 in England, but never really took off at first. Over the next year, full of disbanding and reforming, rehearsing with inadequate equipment in tiny rooms, they had a demo to mark themselves with. Eventually they were picked up by Virgin Records.
Their last release was a live recording, which came out in 1991. The members went their separate ways, until 2003 when they decided to get together one time and play for nostalgia’s sake. The audience was very receptive and soon they reunited again.
Map Of The Past is the second album released since then. It is an album full of melody and emotion, but ends up feeling a little lackluster. Let me explain.
“Man In The Photograph” is a solemn song, with some patriotic drums and horns in the background, making it feel like an homage to someone dear. Perhaps the soldier on the album cover? “Wallflower” has some gritty guitar, but is far from aggressive and actually leans more to the melodic side. “Map of the Past” does the same. “Clocks” is pretty, but it’s not pretty or catchy enough to really stand out. It’s also long and feels like it. “Flag” picks up in intensity, thanks mostly to an overdriven guitar solo. The beginning to “Send No Flowers” sounds like Wagner sat in for a session and it’s pretty cool. Unfortunately, that’s the most interesting point of the record and that means I’ve run out of things to talk about from it.
This isn’t a bad album at all, but I feel there aren’t enough interesting things to keep my attention. There’s at least something interesting in each song, but they’re fewer and farther between than I’d like to hear. The filler, if you will, isn’t usually bad either, but I don’t feel that it’s captivating the way it should be. But at least check it out for yourself; it can do no harm.
Key Tracks: Man In The Photograph, Flag, Send No Flowers
