Death Cab For Cutie (new album out in 2022 + tour ongoing!)

[KevShmev]

Anyone else a fan of this wonderful band?  I started getting into them late last year, and they have been one of my most-listened-to bands since. 

Plans and Transatlanticism are two magnificent discs, the new EP is damn good, and I am just starting to get into The Photo Album.

Also, The Postal Service's cd, Give Up, is terrific, too.  It is a side project Ben Gibbard (singer, guitarist and lyricist for Death Cab) did.  It is basically the awesome melodies of Death Cab, but with electronic drum beats and such.  It is rad as hell.

Speaking of Ben Gibbard, the guy has quickly become one of my favorite lyricists.  He has a very unique way of writing that I totally dig.  His lyrics are almost always noteworthy. 

Anyway, great band! 

[Sigz]

I love Death Cab. Saw them live for the first time back in April, they were fantastic. Transatlanticism is a brilliant album - have you given Narrow Stairs a listen yet?

[KevShmev]

I intentionally didn't say anything about Narrow Stairs, simply because it is easily the least best thing I have heard by them thus far.  It is pretty good, and has its moments, but overall is pretty uneven.

[antigoon]

I only have Narrow Stairs and Plans, but I adore NS. I haven't had a chance to really dig into Plans yet, but there are a few tracks on it that stick out. I need to check out Transatlanticism ASAP.

And yes, The Postal Service kicks ass.

[j]

I intentionally didn't say anything about Narrow Stairs, simply because it is easily the least best thing I have heard by them thus far.  It is pretty good, and has its moments, but overall is pretty uneven.

This band is pretty good, but I didn't really like Narrow Stairs much at all.

-J

[Jamesman42]

I received a few albums of theirs from a friend, what should I start with?

[Sigz]

I intentionally didn't say anything about Narrow Stairs, simply because it is easily the least best thing I have heard by them thus far.  It is pretty good, and has its moments, but overall is pretty uneven.

Understandable. I loved it when I first heard it, but it hasn't aged nearly as well as their other stuff. Grapevine Fires is still one of their best songs though.

[KevShmev]

I received a few albums of theirs from a friend, what should I start with?

Cannot go wrong with Plans or Transatlanticism.

Grapevine Fires is still one of their best songs though.

Eh, it's good, but not that good.  IMO, of course. 

[Sigz]

I received a few albums of theirs from a friend, what should I start with?

Cannot go wrong with Plans or Transatlanticism.

This.

Grapevine Fires is still one of their best songs though.

Eh, it's good, but not that good.  IMO, of course.  

No, it's objectively their best song.

[antigoon]

Grapevine Fires is SOOOO good.

[KevShmev]

The Photo Album = awesome.  It is making a serious push for best Death Cab cd, at least to me. 

[KevShmev]

As much as I loved Plans at first, and still do, I now think that both The Photo Album and Transatlanticism are better.  And I am slowly getting into We Have the Facts...

This band still rules.

[austin]

dc is amazing
transatlanticism to me is better than most dt albums
plans is great
narrow stairs is glorious

[KevShmev]

You like Narrow Stairs that much, eh?  I don't shit all over it, like a lot of their fan base seemingly likes to, but it was definitely a massive dropoff from almost everything else they've done, IMO.  There isn't a single song on there that I would say is great or one of their best, although I do think "Pity and Fear" is better than most think.  I thought the Open Door EP was a nice little rebound; I could listen to "My Mirror Speaks" all day.

[Perpetual Change]

I've been known to spin Transatlanticism from time to time, but I really can't stand Gibbard.  His delivery, tone, emotional range, etc... is EXACTLY the same in every song.  He's annoying.  I can't go anywhere near The Postal Service, either.

[Sigz]

I still haven't listened to Open Door yet. They played one of the songs off of it when I saw them last year, but I don't really remember it.

As for Narrow Stairs, it isn't as awesome as it was when I first heard it, but it's still a really good album. Talking Bird, Cath, No Sunlight, and Twin Sized Bed are all great, and Grapevine Fires is one of their best songs.

[KevShmev]

I've been known to spin Transatlanticism from time to time, but I really can't stand Gibbard.  His delivery, tone, emotional range, etc... is EXACTLY the same in every song.

I don't agree with that at all, but even if it were true, so what?  Not every band is trying to reinvent the wheel with every album.  Death Cab writes catchy, pop/indie rock, and they do a damn fine job of it.  Sometimes, good songs are all you need, and they have an abundance of them.

[Perpetual Change]

It's not about reinventing the wheel.  It's Gibbard singing every song in his creepy, way to sentimental to be believable voice.

[ReaperKK]

Death Cab has been on my list to check out for some time. Once I get through the PT discography that I'm listening to I'll check them out.

[bodiesinflight]

I've been known to spin Transatlanticism from time to time, but I really can't stand Gibbard.  His delivery, tone, emotional range, etc... is EXACTLY the same in every song.  He's annoying.  I can't go anywhere near The Postal Service, either.

That's kinda how I feel about Gavin Hayes in dredg to an extent.
---
'I Will Possess Your Heart' is the most awesomely creepy song in history btw

[Perpetual Change]

I've been known to spin Transatlanticism from time to time, but I really can't stand Gibbard.  His delivery, tone, emotional range, etc... is EXACTLY the same in every song.  He's annoying.  I can't go anywhere near The Postal Service, either.

That's kinda how I feel about Gavin Hayes in dredg to an extent.
---
'I Will Possess Your Heart' is the most awesomely creepy song in history btw

I can see the comparison.  The difference for me is I don't know what Gavin is getting at most of the time, so I can't really say much about whether the way he's singing is appropriate or not.

With Gibbard, it's a lot of the same sentimental stuff over and over again.

[KevShmev]

I completely disagree, in regards to Gibbard, but to each his own.

Death Cab has been on my list to check out for some time. Once I get through the PT discography that I'm listening to I'll check them out.

Cool.  Let us know when you do.

[Arcaeus]

I've only heard I Will Follow You Into The Dark and I Will Possess Your Heart, but both are great songs, so I've been considering buying one of their albums.

[Sigz]

I'd recommend Transatlanticism.

[austin]

I'd recommend Transatlanticism.

a thousand times this
possibly best album of the decade

[kirbywelch92]

'I Will Possess Your Heart' is the most awesomely creepy song in history btw

No, that would be Radiohead's "How to Disappear Completely."

[KevShmev]

I knew it would happen eventually and it finally did:

"We Looked Like Giants" is now absolutely destroying me.

I love it when a song you have been listening to for a while goes from, "This is pretty good," to "Holy shit, this is too awesome for words!"

[HarlequinForest]

I hate Ben Gibbard.  He's married to Zooey Deschanel.   

[antigoon]

What an amazing couple.

[KevShmev]

New album coming up later this spring. 

This band needs more love from this forum.

[King Postwhore]

Kev, I have Plans & Narrow Stairs.  I love both CD's.  What should I try next?

[KevShmev]

Transatlanticism.  And then The Photo Album. 

Keep us updated!

[EPICVIEW]

I enjoy them! very good songs

[antigoon]

Still like this band, but I can't listen to them all the time. I get too depressed

[bodiesinflight]

'I Will Possess Your Heart' is the most awesomely creepy song in history btw

No, that would be Radiohead's "How to Disappear Completely."

HTDC isn't really creepy to me, affecting yes but not creepy