Maps & Atlases Round 2 [buzzsession]

It’s been over two years since we last filmed a Buzzsession with Maps & Atlases.  In that time, the band has been hard at work, releasing their two albums, Perch Patchwork and their most recent Beware and Be Grateful, and touring extensively with a very long list of distinguished bands including Death Cab for Cutie, Frightened Rabbit, Foals, Ra Ra Riot, Minus The Bear, Portugal. The Man, Broken Bells, Cults, and many more.

In nearly every description of the band you can find on the internet, you’ll find a reference to their math rock roots.  While this was ever present in their early EPs — the asymmetrical tempos and guitar-centric songwriting — their records showcase a band which possesses the ability to craft great songs that span multiple rock genres.  It was our goal to highlight this in our recording and to visually compliment their style with a backdrop that would look great while maintaining the focus on the band as they performed.  We were given this opportunity during their last trip to New York when we spent a couple hours with the band and shot this session for their tracks “Vampires” and “Remote and Dark Years”, both off the band’s most recent LP, Beware and Be Grateful.  Enjoy the videos below and snag the free downloads as well.

I cannot thank the following people enough for their roles in the production of these videos: Justin Lawes (director/editor/producer/videographer), Sean Wehrli (producer/videographer), Austin Hermann (producer/videographer), Nicolo Bianchino (videographer), and Dan Molad (audio).

Like the illustration?  Kevin Budnik is to thank for that!  He draws comics and paints, among other things. At the moment he greatly enjoys crossword puzzles and bran cereals. You can find more of his work on his website and his blog

If you like what you see, click the “like” button below!

‘Buzzsessions’ is a live session series made by The Wild Honey Pie.  With each new episode, we travel with a different band to a different part of New York City and record sometimes-intimate/sometimes-wild versions of two or three songs which are given away for free.

For reference, here’s the video I personally filmed with them in 2010.  With a flip camera.  Oy vey (for my film work, not the band’s performance).