With a name inspired by a song about young angst (featured in The Beatles’s made for TV movie, Magical Mystery Tour), it shouldn’t surprise that Death Cab for Cutie continues on in that vein. Their melancholy lyrics and mellow sound have spoken to the lovesick and semi-depressed since ‘97, but recent years have seen their rise to a more mainstream prominence – a stark contrast to their indie roots. Frontman Ben Gibbard has become something of an icon for the mainstream’s view of the emo and indie scene. His plaintive, airy voice has been popularized in shows like The O.C. whose emo-nerd misfit, Seth Cohen (played by Adam Brody), tags Death Cab as his favorite band.
Although Death Cab began as an indie outfit, they’ve faced criticism for selling out, most recently for their move from Barsuk Records to Atlantic Records. They still have the same sound, although it’s grown and developed. Their music is contemplative and serene, Gibbard’s voice soaring over a varied instrumentation. It’s the kind of music for relaxing and come October 10, Gibbard and co. will be sure to deliver quite the jam session.
To re-acquaint yourself with Death Cab before the show, check out these albums.
You Can Play These Songs With Chords (1997)
Their debut was originally released on cassette and surprised Gibbard with its success, leading to his decision to devote himself to the band. The album is very much lo-fi, giving it an endearing garage-band quality similar to Gibbard’s previous solo project, ¡All-Time Quarterback!. Although it lacks the somewhat dream-like quality of later releases, you can already hear the beginnings of the trademark Death Cab sound, like in “Champagne From a Paper Cup.” There are some interesting riffs used in “President of What” that seem slightly different from the rest of the album, but the songs all give off the same vibe, creating a feeling of nostalgia.
Key tracks: “Champagne From A Paper Cup”, “President of What”, “That’s Incentive”, “Amputations.”
Transatlanticism (2003)
Jump ahead six years, past a number of releases, and you get Transatlanticism. This is generally considered Death Cab’s “coming out” album or at least the album that started getting them public attention. Their sound is much more polished than in previous efforts. But the album overall is mellow and almost depressingly so. With the exception of “The Sound of Settling,” which bounces along with an almost happy ‘ba-ba’ chorus, every song is slow and contemplative, although “Expo ‘86″ and “The New Year” come off as hybrids between the two. Gibbard’s voice is as lush and sweet as ever, absolutely heartbreaking on “Tiny Vessels” and “A Lack of Color”. If you want to indulge in beautifully sad music, this album is a good bet.
Key tracks: “The Sound of Settling”, “Tiny Vessels”, “Title and Registration”, “A Lack of Color”, “Death of an Interior Decorator.”
Plans (2005)
Death Cab’s first release on Atlantic, with it the band’s sound continued to become more polished. There are more up-beat songs this time around, although the group still specializes in the melancholy. Predictably, they faced criticism for “selling out,” as most bands do when they achieve mainstream success and switch to a major label but the album isn’t too far a stretch from Transatlanticism. “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” became popular as something of an indie love song, with Gibbard singing softly accompanied by a sole guitar. The album is nothing extraordinary or remarkable but it was a decent continuation of what they’d already accomplished.
Key tracks: “Soul Meets Body”, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”, “Crooked Teeth.”
Narrow Stairs (2008)
Their most recent album and the first to reach #1 on the Billboard 200. Its best known single, “I Will Possess Your Heart”, aside from being about a stalker, is noted for having a four minute intro. A bit unnecessary perhaps but it makes it memorable. The album overall is darker in places and more mature than their previous works, which may come off as adolescent in comparison. Their sound has broadened but stayed the same at heart. “The Ice is Getting Thinner” comes off as a despairing brand of melancholy rather than youthful discontent. “No Sunlight” brightens the album considerably, with happy melody and instrumentation that contrasts with Gibbard’s lyrics. Although they may lose old fans who don’t consider them to be the same or that feel they’re not indie enough, they’ve gained considerable recognition by this point. Overall, a well-received album though its long-term effects have yet to be seen.
Key tracks: “I Will Possess Your Heart”, “No Sunlight”, “The Ice is Getting Thinner”, “Cath…”