Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs (Album)
» Death Cab for Cutie Australian Tour Announced - May 26, 2008
The second major label release from the former indie band, Death Cab For Cutie, is everything I could ever want from my favourite band in the entire universe (no exaggeration). Beautiful, beautiful music. Narrow Stairs is not as introspective as some of DCFC’s earlier records (Something About Airplanes to Plans all carried a contemplative, easy-listening vibe) but goes along a darker path. I Will Posses Your Heart goes past the 8 minute mark with a dramatic build up that slowly fill every corner of the space you currently occupy. Bixby Canyon Bridge similarly follows the dramatic rise formula but with more intent. It’s the kind where is starts off slow, and you know it’s going to get bigger, you feel it grow, then it hits. It’s a great feeling that only a few bands can achieve, DCFC do it with vigour.
On the other end of the scale there’s The Ice is Getting Thinner which moves slowly, with a depressing decline in hope. As Gibbard’s voice drops off at the end of every word, you can feel that any optimism that may have been left has disappeared. It’s a song of complete melancholy, but that sadness is what makes it so nice to listen to. It’s a quiet acceptance of what is. Then there’s the ironically upbeat No Sunlight which cries for a bop-along but literally says there’s “no sunlight, anymore”. It may seem a depressing record, but don’t prejudge it as another work of indie self-deprecation because it’s so much more.
An argument keeps popping up about whether Narrow Stairs is better than Plans, or any of their earlier stuff. My stance on this is a little undecided; I think Transatlanticism is the best, and perhaps will not be topped. However, Narrow Stairs a completely different record to the others. I feel inclined to say NS is better only because the endless amounts of interviews I’ve read tell me that the boys themselves think its better. I don’t really think it’s a matter of comparing DCFC’s work, or any bands for that matter, as better or worse but it should be looked at as a whole. Each album has its merits, and Narrow Stairs is no exception. I do think it will perform better live though (bring on August!).
The album provides a few slow build ups that fuel your anticipation, knowing that what is to come is a heartbreaking moment of musical genius; where everything in the room stops and you land in a complete world of lyrical imagery and musical cohesion. Death Cab For Cutie has the amazing ability to turn a few minutes of song into a feeling that is sustained throughout the rest of your day and Ben Gibbard’s song writing ability can’t questioned. By producing such brilliant pieces of work, he truly is a visionary in the musical sense, making any moment one of complete beauty with a matter of words and melodic ingenuity. Honestly, my words mean nothing; Death Cab cannot be accurately described, they must be heard and felt to be fully appreciated.
