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From:Death Cab for Cutie , Atlantic ,
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#134 |
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Climbed "Narrow Stairs" without falling, 2008-05-14
This album easily deserves a 5 star rating, but the release of "Transatlanticism" keeps it from receiving one. If you loved that album then this one is a must have. "Narrow Stairs" is so well written and will keep you listening again and again. If you are one of those people who bought "Plans" due to some of the singles you heard on the radio I would use caution when purchasing this CD because it may not be for you. This CD would be best compared to "Transatlanticism" , so if you fell in love with that release don't hesitate to pick this one up. You'll love it.
2 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
 I think this is their best album yet, 2008-05-14
I've been listening to Stairs nonstop for the past few days, and I think it's their best work to date. In fact, I'm surprised that not too many reviewers agree with me on this. I suppose you can call me a die hard fan, as I have pretty much their entire collection on my ipod, I've seen Death Cab in concert and Ben Gibbard's solo tour and I'm going to see them again in June (decided to go after hearing the album for the first time). I'm not going to lie and say Stairs is perfect, but I think the strongest tracks trump much of what Death Cab has done before.
I'd like to go through it song by song, so bear with me.
Bixby Canyon Bridge: I agree with what everyone else said - best opening imaginable. It seems at first like it's going in the direction of a Transatlanticism ballad, but then they deliver a heavily percussive, distorted power-chord rhythim (not so unlike "Blacking out the Friction") that drives the rest of the track. At first, I though that the "Dre-e-eam" part was too long (and partially ruined the song), but I've gotten used to it, and now I think it fits. The beginning and end of the song are really melodic and beautiful. This is tied for my favorite track on the album.
I Will Possess Your Heart: I loved this song when it first came out, but compared to some of the new tracks it seems to have lost a bit of its luster. However, the bass line is great, as are the lyrics. I agree with other reviewers that the 4 minute intro is either wonderful or frustrating depending upon your mood, but you can always skip ahead.
No Sunlight: I would have to call this one of the weakest songs on the album, though it's still pretty decent. The lyrics are really depressing and oddly matched with a peppy and upbeat tempo. Not a terrible song, but it's up against a lot of tough competition.
Cath...: Tied with Bixby for my favorite song on the album. I am extremely surpirsed that this song hasn't gotten better press, because I think it's one of the best in the band's repetoire. I think Bixby is very much a product of the album and works best in the context of the CD, but Cath I think can be a wonderful standalone track. Beautiful melody and guitar and great lyrics. Makes an amazing acoustic solo too, as Gibbard demonstrated on his tour. I also love the return to a tragic wedding scene alla "Company Calls" and its "Epilogue."
Talking Bird: Ballad, a little boring, but it's still pretty decent depending upon your mood. My biggest complaint is that it doesn't seem to fit in that well with the rest of the album.
You Can Do Better than Me: Interesting instrumentation; I love the juxtoposition of parade music with lyrics stating "It seems to me that we stay together out of fear of dying alone... You can do better than me, but I can't do better than you." The song has a lot of novelty, but that might wear off eventually. They kept it under 2 minutes, so I think it works well.
Grapevine Fires: The third best track on the album. I think the song is fairly unique for Death Cab; it's slow and I would say kind of soulful. It really grows on you.
Your New Twin Sized Bed: Yet another depressing song about giving up on love. I think these lyrics made me the saddest of any on the CD. Something about "you look so defeated lying there in your new twin sized bed," makes me feel depressed. Really good song though.
Long Division: It took me a while to get into this song, but it's very catchy and has a cool retro feel. It's a solid track.
Pity and Fear: I also didn't really like this one until recently. Now I think it's fairly decent. There's something about the feel of the song that I'm not crazy about, but I think I'm starting to get into it.
The Ice is Getting Thinner: I was surprised when I first heard this because it is completely different from the way Ben Gibbard played it on his solo tour. He did a piano version that sounded like something in between "Transatlanticism" and the intro to "Different Names for the Same Thing," but the studio version with a slow, hollow guitar accompanyment couldn't be more different. Good closer for the album, and very haunting.
In the final analysis, Stairs, like every DCFC album before it, has some tuly great songs and some mediocre ones. But I think the great songs on this CD (Bixby, Possess Your Heart, Cath, Grapevine Fires and Ice Getting Thinner) carry it a lot further than its predecessors. I think Stairs has some of the feel of We Have the Facts and The Photo Ablum with the polish of Plans. It's nice to see them going in a new direction while still staying decidedly Death Cab.
Thinner Veneer, 2008-05-14
The lyrics to Death Cab songs have often been on the sad/dark side. On Plans that was largly hidden by the songcrafting and production.
Narrow Stairs does not hide what it is nearly as much, the songs are dark and it is noticable. Good thing that Death Cab is great at crafting those types of songs.
The feel of this album is closer to Transatlanticism than Plans, so old school fans must be thrilled. But like that album my enjoyment is limited to certain songs as opposed to the entire album like Plans.
Songs your really should not miss are: Bixby Canyon Bridge, Grapevine Fires and the 2nd half of I Will Possess Your Heart (which is 4 min). Also good are Twin Bed and Long Division. It could be that The Ice is Getting Thinner is actually the best track, but is so masterfully depressing that I can't listen to it, it is that haunting.
This is not an album that stands up to Plans, but then how many albums are created that all the songs are great, not many.
2 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
 The Narrow Stairs Lead Two Steps Down, 2008-05-14
I rate this CD with 3 stars when comparing it with their previous 2 full lengths. "Trans" would get 4 stars from me and I would give "Plans" 5 stars. With that being said this is not a bad CD, it just feels like DCFC took a step backwards. Musically maybe I can say they tried to progress with an up-beat style in some of the tracks but I think in some weird way that I can't pinpoint, this CD lacks emotion. "Trans" had some great up-beat songs so the fact that DCFC can succeed with up-beat songs isn't a question in my mind. There is just something that lacks in the songs, some of them are kind of dull, nothing special. IMO, there are really only five good songs (3 great songs-Bixby Canyon Bridge, Grapevine Fires, Your New Twin Sized Bed). The others I am actually finding more dull and mediocre by DCFC standards everytime I listen to them. I am pretty disappointed with this release.
4 of 7 customers found the following review helpful:
Death Cab hit another one out of the park., 2008-05-14
The fact is, if you like Death Cab and their previous work, there is no reason why you won't love this album. If you are new to the band, you may want to start with Transatlanticism or Plans.
This release, while still very much in keeping with those previous albums, certainly has a vibe and a feel all it's own. The band was not content to just rush out a Plans clone and reap the profits, which they certainly could have done. I despise when bands get comfortable with a sound, and simply never evolve for the rest of their careers. Thankfully, Death Cab appears to be a band that is above those things.
So while the band has evolved, especially in terms of song structure, the best parts of Death Cab carry on to this new record. The production is still incredible, and Ben Gibbard's vocals and lyrics still drive the band. The song writing is what originally drew me to this band, and it continues to be stellar.
This one should definitely appeal to longterm fans, and if you are new to the band it is certainly a solid introduction. I just feel you may enjoy the band more in the longterm if you start with Transatlanticism or Plans.
Standout Tracks:
I Will Possess Your Heart
No Sunlight
Grapevine Fires
Long Division
The Ice Is Getting Thinner
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