Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
After years of creating underground hits that generated a mass following and major label interest, Death Cab for Cutie eventually released the album “Plans”. It was pummeled by longtime fans, as is expected when a independent hero turns to the darkside of a major label, yet it was well received across the board, and wasn’t much of a departure for the band.
Fast forward….
Now we have the band’s second major label release, this one titled “Narrow Stairs”, and unlike “Plans”, is a departure for the band at times, and yet should please their longtime followers and those who have only recently come on board.
The album starts with the oddly titled: ” Bixby Canyon Bridge “, yet is instantly recognizable as a Death Cab album; from the soft sound of the vocals, to the interesting delivery of the lyrics, and the sudden onset of change in tempo and volume. The second track, the single ” I Will Possess Your Heart ” begins with a long instrumental, that proves an interesting choice as the single, until the actual song begins, over 4 minutes into the track. The song is almost a “piss off” from the band to casual fans and mainstream success; as not many singles that are over 7 minutes in length gather extended radio playtime…
The remainder of the album goes from typical type songs for the band to something a bit different and reaching. The album is more hit or miss than say “Plans” or “Transatlanticism”, but still delivers when it has to, and provides another chapter for a band that has never done things the easy way.
Favorite Tracks: New Twin Size Bed, Bixby Canyon Bridge
