Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs" Review

Death Cab for Cutie's new album, Narrow Stairs, marks a new chapter for the group. If you are familiar with their older music, then you will not recognize their new sound. Ranging from a couple of somber songs to upbeat mainstream pop (yes, it has been said and DC4C fans will be angry that they have been associated with pop), Narrow Stairs is different from any other incarnations they've created. This album is also a rarity in that if you take the music away, the lyrcis make for some pretty good poetry.

Not a great song to start out the album. Beginning a little morose, the song stakes a rock turn during the chorus, but never really finds it's mark. The song is about what he expects to find, but those expectations are dash and he is forced to return to something familiar. You could relate those expectations to anything: your job, your love life, your family. But the subtle lyrics are drowned in a lackluster chorus.

You wouldn't know it by the 4 minute 30 seconds of instrumentals, but this track is the first single from the album. The singing doesn't begin until that long intro of continuous bassline and piano is over, but then you realize, "Hey, that is the song on the radio!" "I Will Possess Your Heart" is more upbeat than most DC4C songs and the funky drums will make you wonder if this is that indie band that use to be so meloncholy.

The 1960's musical style Death Cab style is fun to listen to, but when you listen to the lyrics you realize that anything you may think is going real good will probably turn bad. The guitar break after the chorus is a little to heavy, but luckily this short song (after the 8 minute "I Will Possess Your Heart") is a welcomed break.

"Cath..." is a good rock song. Simply put. Good melodic guitar, nice literal lyrics, and well-put breaks. The only negative thing about this song is the seemingly random way production used echo effects on the lead singer. The second best song on the album.

If there has to be a really bad song on the album, then "Talking Bird" is it. This song closely resembles anything else they ever done. If you are making the transition from older Death Cab to this album, then start with this song. It's a slower song that just keeps going even though the song is three and a half minutes.

With the basic chorus of "You can do better than me/but I can't do better than you", he wonders what she sees in him and seems to be begging for her to leave. So does he want to be with her? Who knows, but the Beatles-like music and backup vocals are pretty good. The best parts of the song is the end when he sings the aforementioned chorus: the song breaks into only a piano. Rather sweet. Be warned, the song is really short.

"Grapevine Fires" has sad verses and chrous than lure you into it's pep talks about how things will get better. It's a good song to listen and is one of the tops songs on the album. While you might be turned off by the verses, the chrouses will turn you around. It may remind you of Tom Petty.

This is another fun song, which is also upbeat is it's music. The song reminds you that hopes come and go and some hopes turn out and some don't. The smooth guitar keeps the song flowing well while the drums take your mind of the sadness of losing hope. Even though "I Will Possess Your Heart" is getting the radio play, "Your New Twin Sized Bed" is slightly better.

A lot of metaphors in "Long Division". This fast song brings back some bad memories of Algebra talking about solutions and being the remainder. After all is said and done, he wants to be the one left behind because he is willing to be there forever. It's a good song that leads into the next one.

Transition from the previous song, "Long Division", "Pity an Fear" is about commitment and previous mistakes. Guitar and percussion drive the first part of the song, then it jerks into the full mode of the song while Gibbard continues to lament about his choices.

Start somber and end somber. Things change in relationships and at some point you have to deal with them. The plucky and sad guitar plays background to Gibbard's wonder if things will get better. And if this song turns out like the other sad songs on this album, then the relationship will end. "The Ice is Getting Thinner" was a pretty good choice to end on, despite how the album started.

Death Cab for Cutie wanted to be themselves on this album and they got to do that. With poetic lyrics this time around and a good variety of musical styles, they are poised to either have a hit album, or a slush album. That will be up to the fans they have, and the fans they are going to gain with Narrow Stairs