EVELYN BARGE
A&E Editor
After much anticipation and a controversial switch from a small indie label to music giant Atlantic Records, Death Cab for Cutie released its sixth album, “Plans,” Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Intensely loved by a tight fan base, Death Cab’s switch to the major record label left many of the band’s followers wondering if they would sell out their classic indie sound on the new record.
Death Cab’s longtime fans can rest at ease. Their Atlantic premiere is nothing short of an uplifting musical experience. It seems not even the mighty powers at Atlantic Records can squash the magnetism of this charmed indie band.
The album does have a few noticeable differences. Atlantic has fine-tuned this record — it has a much slicker sound that some might consider overproduced. Also, a few pop-infused tracks such as “Soul Meets Body” and “Crooked Teeth” are enjoyable but take a turn away from Death Cab’s musical legacy. Still, “Plans” is essentially an advanced progression of Death Cab’s classic emotional themes and innovative musical stylings.
The album’s opening track, “Marching Bands of Manhattan,” is a testament to lead singer Benjamin Gibbard’s songwriting skills. His lofty metaphors consistently echo as beautiful reverberations of truth. Surprisingly, even his most high-flown metaphors never become dull, cliché or tacky.
“I Will Follow You into the Dark” is the album’s most achingly expressive track. Gibbard’s haunting lyrics mingle with the crisp, temperate acoustics.
“Love of mine, someday you will die / But I’ll be close behind and I’ll follow you into the dark,” Gibbard sings. A touching ballad, this track is a must-hear for those who doubt the power of Death Cab’s lyrics to produce a starry-eyed, romantic daze in anyone with half a heart.
“What Sarah Said,” focuses on the scene in a hospital waiting room where a man waits for his love to die. Rather than slipping into uncomfortable melodrama, the track takes a distant stance, making the song even more pliable and real in listeners’ minds.
Death Cab’s honest examination of the emotional underpinnings of everyday objects and themes evokes a visceral reaction to the music in which almost everyone can indulge. Certainly, listeners may find it hard to prevent “Plans” from tugging gently on their unsuspecting heartstrings.
09-08-2005
