Ok so here is my own little review of
Death Cab for Cutie's
Narrow Stairs...
Overall, I feel like this was a step away from
Plans and more towards their older roots. And unlike Plans, which was very much a piece by piece work, Narrow Stairs seems to be more of a complete and flowing album, which I personally enjoyed more. It has been out over a month now and I'm sure I've given it at least fifty listens if not more, and I'm still not sick of it in the slightest, which really shows how impressive it is as an album.
Track by Track...
1)
Bixby Canyon Bridge - A very epic song for Death Cab and very different from anything they have ever done. LOVE the drums on this one (though I say they were very disappointing live). I've heard this song is about Jack Keroac, I thought that was interesting. And while i feel like this song is a step in a different direction for the band, they still brought in that characteristic Death Cab sound and imagery. One of my favorites. 9/10
2)
I Will Possess Your Heart - When I first heard this as a single, I was convinced for the first four minutes of the song that Death Cab had gone post-rock...and that they were good at it. Then when Ben's vocals came in I realized I had been wrong, but I also realized the genius to the song. The intro to this song part of the story aspect of it, like when you first fall in "love at first sight" and for a while you just watch the person, noticing them, but dont really make a move yet. That's what the beginning of this song is supposed to replicate, and that becomes apparent when you listen to the words in the second half. 8/10
3)
No Sunlight - Definately the most upbeat song on the album, at least the music is. The vocals are somewhat sad, and that's the problem with this song for me. The vocals don't really match the song in the mood. For me that made the overall feel of the track a little hazy. Still enjoyable though. 6/10
4)
Cath... - To me this song is like the offspring of "Death of an Interior Decorator." It brings the same feeling of a story about marraige, and although the messages aren't exactly the same, the imagery is similar--a tense wedding, where everyone knows nothing is going to turn out how it's supposed to. I love the sound of this song from the first moment to the last. 9.5/10
5)
Talking Bird - As the first slow song on the album, it's brilliant. Although I must say, I often find myself skipping over it to get to the faster-pace stuff. Lots of people seem to think this is the weak point of the album, but I disagree. If I'm in the mood, I'd say this is one of Death Cab's strongest slow songs. But it is slow, so I guess it loses some of its commercial appeal. Ben's vocals are simply gorgeous, and I read that they were all kept from one take, which I guess is a first for them. 7/10
6)
You Can Do Better Than Me - Eh. This is what I would call the weak point of the album. It reminds me of a Christmas carol, and the lyrics are just that average "pity-me" sort of blah we already hear too much in popular music. 3/10
7)
Grapevine Fires - The subtle into is brilliant and the Death Cab reminds us just how unique and spectacular they are with their lyrics. Amazing imagry, I'm not really sure how this song could get much better. 10/10
8)
Your New Twin Sized Bed - They took a comical approach with this one, and it didn't turn out half-bad. I watched an interview with Ben and Nick and they were saying that they wanted to write a song about one of the saddest things they had ever seen, one of them being a woman sitting in the grocery store alone eating a piece of birthday cake, and another being a middle-aged man buying a new twin sized bed. It's a creative way to write a song about being single, and I think they nailed it. The bass and the guitar sound perfect in this song, and my favorite moment on the album comes in at about 2:20 in this song. 9/10
9)
Long Division - Very typical Death Cab here. Not really a stand-out track for me, but I enjoy it for the most part. It sounds VERY similar to "We laugh indoors," a bit too much. This one almost feels like a wasted track to me because I already heard almost the exact same song on The Photo Album... 5/10
10)
Pity and Fear - The drumming on this song is very interseting I think, it sounds a little like it had African influence...that could just be me though. I like it for the most part, but the ending threw me. I guess when they were recording the tape ended and they decided to keep it that way to set up for the next track. It doesn't bother me now, but the first few times through the album it would always startle me. 7/10
11)
The Ice Is Getting Thinner - So sad. This one really pulls on your heart if you really listen and think about it. I don't listen to it that much, but I don't need to. It's a powerful song that will stick with you after only a few listens. Lovely ending to a lovely album. 8/10
Please feel free to comment, agree, disagree, whatever...I would like that :)
