Map of the Woulds EPK

The invigorating nature of “GTFO” is a testament to the band’s unique identity. By incorporating diverse styles, they not only hold the listener’s attention but also encourage a deeper appreciation for the art of music creation. The various shifts in tone and tempo keep the audience engaged, inviting them to invest emotionally in the listening experience.
- Edgar Allen poets

The “GTFO!” heaviness especially resonates when the “oh, I hate to go” vocal harmonies hit thereafter, exemplary of the band’s commendable range — seamlessly shifting between anthemic rock passion and sophisti-pop allure. Then arrives the blissful guitar solo, invoking a classic-rock and psychedelia melding as a twangy free-flowing takes hold amidst breezy rhythm guitar and hypnotic rhythms, resembling a cross of Allman Brothers and Steely Dan. “GTFO” is a standout rocker from Map of the Woulds.
- Obscure Sound

In a musical landscape often driven by predictability, “GTFO” stands out as a reminder that innovation can still thrive when artists are willing to trust their instincts. It is a track that demands attention, not through volume or spectacle, but through its refusal to conform—an unapologetic exploration of sound that lingers long after it ends.
- Distortion Diaries

Blending a folky, or at least folk-rock, finesse with chiming and charming indie guitar licks, understated rock drives, and a slightly psychedelic, slightly early-Bowie-esque wilful oddness, it is the musical equivalent of that ultra-cool outsider kid you knew at school, the one that you so desperately wanted to be, or at least be friends with.
And even that is an understatement regarding what is going on here; proggy structures abound, arabesque sonic motifs drift through, soulful interludes ebb and flow, and lyrically, they are on to something fascinating. The titular “Goldilocks Zone” is an astrophysical term for that sweet spot in a solar system where everything required for life to emerge is both present and perfectly balanced.
- The big Takeover
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This track is both dry and lush. The production refuses artifice, but behind every note hides a wink, a twist, a mini-provocation. It's not nostalgia that's expressed, it's its ghost, the one that invites itself to the table to mock the living. The Old Songs doesn't flatter memory; it deconstructs it, scatters it, and reassembles it backwards, as if Joy Division had decided to have a good laugh in the studio with Talking Heads.
What makes this release unique is its ability to make the absurd immediately digestible, almost pop. Map of the Woulds plays with contradictions, but transforms every angle into a hook, every grating idea into a danceable groove. The Old Songs is lucidity dressed up as a celebration, a satire that doesn't condemn but invites you to dance on the ruins.
- ExtravaFrench

Trying to label this track is a fool’s game, but imagine the intricate musicianship of Dave Matthews Band colliding with the eccentric swagger of Beck and the layered grandeur of Queen, and you might get close. There’s a hint of progressive rock complexity, balanced by a grounded rhythmic pulse that keeps the whole thing alive and kicking. The guitar work often nods to Brian May — not in imitation, but in spirit, with those precision phrases that somehow feel melodic and architectural.
Lyrically, “The Old Songs” pulls no punches. It’s sharp, cynical, and wryly observant, holding a mirror up to the absurd circus of modern digital culture.
- Edgar Allen poets

"Map of the Woulds is an American band that embraces reflective, dynamic rock , where each song seems born from a dialogue between impulse and contemplation. "Banter" features well-crafted structures and a sound that moves comfortably between the melodic and the energetic, evoking influences from 2000s indie rock and certain post-rock atmospheres. It's music that doesn't give in to chaos, but isn't afraid to let itself be carried away by it, thus offering a sonic experience in which emotion and technique are solidly balanced."
- Freim TV

"The new EP from Map of the Woulds is a fun, jangly psych-rock collection with some strong pop sensibilities. The atmosphere is loose and warm, and there are some interesting influences on display here. Jazz, funk, and alt-rock crop up throughout the release, giving each of the four songs here a unique character."
- The Elite Extremophile

ANGULAR ROCK, DARK JAZZ AND GOOFBALL FUNK. MAP OF THE WOULDS EMERGES FROM THE LAWLESS FRINGES OF THE SEATTLE MUSIC SCENE WITH SIMPLE 17-CHORD POP TO CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN AND BUTT.
TLDR: Avant garde pop, funky prog and psychedelic rock

Consisting of Woody Frank (guitar and voice), Andrew Woods (bass and voice) and Adrian Woods (drums and voice), Map of the Woulds has a whole lot of would. It's also a groovy new oasis along the journey of three Seattle songwriter-musicians who have been playing around town in various configurations since forever.

Woody, Andrew and Adrian formed Map of the Woulds in 2019, embracing the turn-on-a-dime flexibility of the trio format, with a newfound focus on song-writing and making challenging ideas pop-palatable.

Band Images (Click for high resolution version)