Death Cab over comes pressure
Michael Peterson/staff writer
Issue date: 9/9/05 Section: The Verge
Death Cab for Cutie has a lot of pressure riding on them with their new CD, "Plans." It is their first major-label CD and the follow-up to their 2003 break-out album, "Transalaticism."
Death Cab for Cutie has also gained popularity from front man Ben Gibbard's side-project, The Postal Service. The Postal Service has had hits with songs like "Such Great Heights" and "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight."
With Death Cab for Cutie's growing popularity, fans have been afraid that the band had sold out; especially when they left Barsuk Records for Atlantic Records. But these reactions are not surprising at all. All independent bands are subjected to harsh scrutiny when they make the jump from a small label to a big label.
Death Cab overcame the extreme expectations and made "Plans" a success. The band's signature sound remains intact and it is obvious that they didn't change anything about their sound to make them more "radio-friendly."
As expected from a Death Cab album, "Plans" packs an emotional punch and is intertwined with carefully crafted, beautiful lyrics. In the first track, "Marching Bands of Manhattan," Ben Gibbard sings, "If I could open my arms and span the length of Manhattan, I'd bring it to where you are, making a lake of the East River and Hudson and if I could open my mouth, wide enough for a marching band to march out of. They would make your name sing and bend through alleys and bounce off other buildings."
In the folkish-sounding, acoustic song "I will follow you into the Dark" Gibbard sings to his lover about death and how their love will last through even that obstacle. He sings, "Love of mine, someday you will die but I'll be close behind. I will follow you into the dark." Some people may find those lyrics strange but I found it to be very endearing.
Other songs include the reminiscing "Summer Skin," a harsh but honest break-up song "Someday You Will be Loved" and a melancholy "Brothers on a Hotel Bed."
"Plans" isn't quite as good and complete as "Transalaticism," their best CD to date, but doesn't take away from the brilliance of this album. Death Cab for Cutie's music is soothing and has described many times as a "thinking-mans" rock band. Death Cab may not be for everybody though. Some people might find their music too slow moving and complain that it doesn't "rock hard." But if you're looking for a CD that doesn't lack substance and contains lyrics that will stick with you, I would highly recommend this album.
Death Cab for Cutie has also gained popularity from front man Ben Gibbard's side-project, The Postal Service. The Postal Service has had hits with songs like "Such Great Heights" and "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight."
With Death Cab for Cutie's growing popularity, fans have been afraid that the band had sold out; especially when they left Barsuk Records for Atlantic Records. But these reactions are not surprising at all. All independent bands are subjected to harsh scrutiny when they make the jump from a small label to a big label.
Death Cab overcame the extreme expectations and made "Plans" a success. The band's signature sound remains intact and it is obvious that they didn't change anything about their sound to make them more "radio-friendly."
As expected from a Death Cab album, "Plans" packs an emotional punch and is intertwined with carefully crafted, beautiful lyrics. In the first track, "Marching Bands of Manhattan," Ben Gibbard sings, "If I could open my arms and span the length of Manhattan, I'd bring it to where you are, making a lake of the East River and Hudson and if I could open my mouth, wide enough for a marching band to march out of. They would make your name sing and bend through alleys and bounce off other buildings."
In the folkish-sounding, acoustic song "I will follow you into the Dark" Gibbard sings to his lover about death and how their love will last through even that obstacle. He sings, "Love of mine, someday you will die but I'll be close behind. I will follow you into the dark." Some people may find those lyrics strange but I found it to be very endearing.
Other songs include the reminiscing "Summer Skin," a harsh but honest break-up song "Someday You Will be Loved" and a melancholy "Brothers on a Hotel Bed."
"Plans" isn't quite as good and complete as "Transalaticism," their best CD to date, but doesn't take away from the brilliance of this album. Death Cab for Cutie's music is soothing and has described many times as a "thinking-mans" rock band. Death Cab may not be for everybody though. Some people might find their music too slow moving and complain that it doesn't "rock hard." But if you're looking for a CD that doesn't lack substance and contains lyrics that will stick with you, I would highly recommend this album.
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