Death Cab For Cutie's Narrow Stairs

After listening to the single Death Cab For Cutie released to bump up the anticipation for their new album even more, I was excited. Very excited. "I Will Possess Your Heart" is a beautifully structured and executed piece of music. At 8:35, it is an epic choice as a single, ambitious and impressive. Whats even more impressive is how well it was received, and how much everyone seems to be enjoying it. The slow escalade to emotional vocals and break outs of music is like the build up to the breaking point in a novel.

Needless to say, we were all waiting to see what other miracles Ben Gibbard and the gang might pull out of their talents for the album. I prayed that Death Cab hadn't, shall we say, "jumped the shark." "I Will Possess Your Heart" gave me hope.

By now, probably mostly the entire blogging community will have downloaded "Narrow Stairs" from one of the many leak links across the blogosphere. I listened to it immediately, all the way through, and all I can say in response is a cheesey expected "Wow."

Combining the jumpy, almost punk-like beats and guitar chords of their older style like on "The Photo Album", then taking the melodic agony and beauty from "Transatlantacism", and finally pushing in some epic aspects of orchestrated like band choreography from "Plans" gives us what "Narrow Stairs" is: a combination of the phases Death Cab has been through as a band together. While this description of the album may make it sound more messy than beautiful, it comes off as more original sounding than ever before.

Already the opener pulls you in. "Bixby Canyon Bridge" is a beautiful song and I swear I have never heard Ben Gibbard sing more intensely before. Going from slow to intense to a little faster and back down to slow, the track is a roller coaster in a slow motion: practically magical.
Part of the appeal of this album is going to be the multiple different types of music Death Cab manages to serve up to us. Up beat tunes like "No Sunlight" are dance worthy, while a track like "Long Division" is faster than others but more in a jump around the room in beat way. Perfect for a live show. On the other side, Death Cab evokes feeling and sentiments (as usual) with more epic tracks of multiple instrument layering and loud strong vocals, like opener "Bixby Canyon Bridge" and "Pity and Fear".

The more "rock back and forth and move your head tunes", like "Cath", with echoey vocals and perfect drum beats, allow you to fall into the album gracefully and with ease. There's also the back to the basics easy going slow tunes of "Talking Bird" and album closer "The Ice Is Getting Thinner". Although I feel "Talking Bird" may be a weak track on the album, the closer is definitley a beautiful haunting tune that leaves you hanging.

The band sounds great; of course the album is very produced, in the fashion of "Plans", but while "Plans" was called "polished", "shiny", or even "waxed" by some, I would call "Narrow Stairs" more refined. Like aged wine, even if the album is brand new. The band hangs tight to its roots using feedback and steady beats, but squeezes in their new bright sounds as well. They are perfectly joined together in a harmony achieved over many years of playing as a band. Ben Gibbard also plays his part very well. His voice is as good as it has ever been, strong and true. Not too much has changed, but I believe this is what has given Death Cab it's indie appeal (no matter what label) over the years. Overall, I think Death Cab sounds wonderful. They've come far up the ladder.

At first listen, you may be slightly dissapointed. You may have expected more after the epic track that was "I Will Possess Your Heart". Theres no doubt that that track is the best on the album; but, this does not mean the rest are less. There are some real gems and moments on this album that will catch you and perhaps seize you for one moment of breathlessness. I have already found many such moments. Join me.

Link from Keeping Time wordpress blog
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs (2008)
http://www.zshare.net/download/114386436cff3dc6/