Reviews: Narrow Stairs

by: Death Cab for Cutie






Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0075678994654
Label: Atlantic
Languages: FrenchUnknown
Manufacturer: Atlantic
MPN: 452796
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Atlantic
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Studio: Atlantic


Rating: - Another solid effort
I got "Narrow Stairs" for Christmas and am glad that I asked for it. It opens up with two great songs, "Bixby Canyon Bridge" and I Will Possess Your Heart." Obviously,the melancholy lyrics and plaintive singing of Benjamin Gibbard are the focal points. Not every song is a winner, but the songs that I like best also have very catchy pop hooks, which you can just groove along with. If you liked "The Photo Album," which I did, you definitely will like this one. Recommended.

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Rating: - Narrow Stairs
Of all of Death Cab's albums, Narrow Stairs is by far the most haunting. As always, the band draws comparisons to fellow Northwestern indie rockers The Decemberists, but this time with the sad lyrics of a song by a band like The National. After 10 years together, Death Cab For Cutie finally sounds as experienced as any of the bands that paved the way for today's indie rock scene, such as Built To Spill and Modest Mouse in the mid 90s. Before the album was released, the song "I Will Posses Your Heart" was put up on the band's MySpace page and I was really disappointed that I had wasted 8 minutes of my time. It's not too bad of a song, but the first five minutes could have easily been cut out. I was also disappointed with the first track when I first listened to the full album, however by track 3 things definately picked up. After a few more listens to the album I realized that this was the first DCFC album that doesn't contain any songs that I often have to skip. The word on the street is that Death Cab's next album will not be as dark, but based on previous albums, darker is usually better.

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Rating: - Another great album
Death Cab for Cutie lyrics is poetic and the music brings it all together. This album takes off where Plans left off, but with growth. FYI they sound awesome live!

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Rating: - Takes a Few Listens But Well Worth IT!!
This album did not initially stand out to me. It took two listens for everything to really sink in (the lyrics and the musicality)... Well worth it!! I love this album!

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Rating: - A decent CD, but not their best
Look...I love this CD. DCFC have stretched their wings with this one. But I don't think the lyrical prose is there. Not like Plans, and certainly not like Transatlanticism. Gibbard's a genius, IMHO. But I think he strayed a bit on this one.

I'm looking forward to the future of DCFC. And, if you're new to DCFC, I'd certainly suggest Transatlanticism and Plans before I'd refer you to Narrow Stairs.

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