Sometimes reviews are so predictable. If the reviewer is a fan, then chances are, you know what you are going to get in the review. In terms of being a fan of Death Cab for Cutie, all you have to do is search the archives of my site to see how many times I have reviewed the band, or their shows. I have seen the band a number of times. I own everything that they have ever released. Hell, I even drove to Chicago (from Cleveland) to see Ben Gibbard play an acoustic show at Schuba's Tavern. So, I am left with a couple choices.
I could apologize for being a fan and be hyper-critical and jaded in order to prove to people reading the review that I am not being jaded, or I could just give you my honest opinions about what I love so much about the band and their new album.
I am going to go with the latter, because we all know that other critics (Pitchfork anyone?) will be sure to fill their pages with hyper-critical things because they don't like the band or they think Death Cab for Cutie "sold out" by signing on to Atlantic Records before making this last album. My role, then, must be to even out this disparity.
"Plans" is an album that will not only play a big role in Death Cab for Cutie's future, (obvious) but it will also help predict the future of the continuing adaptation of the underground indie music scene in pop culture. Death Cab's guest appearance(s) on the television show, "The O.C." were one major catalyst that has brought them to where they are today. But, pop culture giveth, pop culture taketh away.
When you are used to selling 10,000 albums, or even 50,000 albums, a break like being written into The O.C. because there was a big fan involved in the show can make your career take off, but nobody knows how sustainable it is. Hype brings people out once, but after that, it is up to the band to keep the momentum going. So far we have proven that television shows influence people, which we already knew, and that Death Cab's last album "Transatlanticism" was up to the challenge of capturing a whole lot of attention. Only time will tell if the new music written by Ben Gibbard, Chris Walla, Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr can keep the ever shorter collective attention spans of the fans they made over the last couple of years.
Plans opens with a song called "Marching Bands of Manhattan" and it really sets the tone for the rest of the album. It opens with some church organs as Ben Gibbard begins to sing. One of Death Cab's habits over the last few years since the Stability E.P. has been avoiding formulas related to verse-chorus-verse types of songs. They have instead opted for the slow build from the beginning of songs to the end of songs. It has worked very well up to this point with songs like "Stability" (from the Stability E.P.) "Transatlanticism" and "Tiny Vessels" (from Transatlanticism) and "This Temporary Life," from "The Future Soundtrack of America compilation," which was put out before the last Presidential election.
Article comments
1 - Matt
I've been listening to "Soul Meets Body". Love that song. Sirius 26 has been playing it. Thank God for satellite radio.
2 - Jay
I have to say -- as a diehard fan for about 7 years -- this new CD leaves me completely underwhelmed. The simple fact is that they don't demonstrate the restraint shown on Stability EP, the dynamics shown on We Have the Facts, and the spectrum of track sequencing on Transatlanticism. In summary, it doesn't at all respresent the best of what Death Cab are capable of. They've smoothed out everything that made them sound so good.
3 - Scott
wow...um..."plans"...what to say...very ballad heavy. lots of piano. some good tunes. I, like jay, feel underwhelmed. it feels over-produced in many ways. no instantly recognizable singles like "the sound of settling" (with the possible exception of "crooked teeth"). Mostly just slow and clunky. I guess you could say they're trying to move into new territory and play with some different sounds and textures...and with different songs, they maybe could have pulled it off. 2 out of 5 on my scale.
4 - carlitos_92
DCFC was hard-pressed to top "Transatlanticism," and here... well, they didn't. It's a solid album, even if the ballads are no longer as emotional as they could be. Anyway, fans will love it - but after dozens of listens, to me there are only four really hummable songs. On the previous record, there were 13.
5 - Cassie
Thanks so much for the review. I'm jazzed to buy the album now! I didn't even know there was a new DC cd out! I really enjoyed Transatlanticism though, so I'm sure I'll find something to love about Plans too. Anyway, thanks for the review! :)
C
6 - Tan The Man
Nice...
7 - kat
Having been a Death Cab fan since I was in 8th grade and Something About Airplanes blew my brains out, it is always interesting to see where their newest endeavor goes. While I agree that it does at times feel over-produced and almost too sweet to stomach, there are more times that I feel it hits right on the money. And I like that, for all their new-found fame, they've ended this one with something familiar for the true blue fans that were there before and will still be around after O.C. fame.
To me it sounds like working with Atlantic had more of an effect on their sound than I had anticipated; while Gibbard's (and Walla's) songwriting is strong, the restraint I feel on this album can also be a little stifling. All in all, this is still a lot better than most records coming out these days, but not as sincere as a Death Cab album should be, I guess, and who wants to settle for 'better than most' when you can be phenomenal? Or at least heart-wrenchingly beautiful?
8 - miller
I think Plans is wonderful. It took me a few listens to completely adore Transatlanticism, but Plans hit me right off the bat. (Does that mean my love of it will be fleeting?) I have read what little reviews are available online, as well as the big front page band caricature feature review in Rolling Stone, and they are quite varied.
I heard Soul Meets Body on myspace a few weeks back and it was ok. But Different Names, What Sarah Said, and I Will Follow blew me away at first listen.
Major Label, right. They still had Chris produce it, and didn't write 12 versions of Sounds of Settling to aleinate all their long-time fans and gain a 14 year old stadium fan base. They wrote a Death Cab record. A natural progression, and it's great. Maybe not their best, but close.
9 - Craig Lyndall
I agree with your final assessment to be sure. Probably not their best, but certainly a very nice follow-up to Transatlanticism.
10 - William
I've listened to this album about 10 times and I don't know what you idiots are whining about.
I love Death Cab's older albums. When I heard they had a new album I wasn't sure if it was going to sound like just an extension off of their previous albums.
This is just the kind of new album I wanted to hear from them. Instead of heavy guitar over Ben Gibbard's vocals this album uses calmer instruments, placing more emphasis on them.
I don't know about other Death Cab fans, but I think Ben Gibbard has an amazing voice.
This album is just what they needed. If I want to listen to songs like they have on their old albums, I listen to them. On their old cds. NOT their new one.
11 - SpinTernAround
Hey, I'm from Spin magazine, and I wanted to let you guys know that we have some great behind the scenes footage from Death Cab's Spin cover shoot on our website. Def worth checking out
http://www.spin.com/features/magazine/covers/2005/08/0509_deathcab_cover
12 - matt
Please answer my question, i have read your reviews and confused by the mixed response so here:
should i spend my money on DC new album plans?
lol and any other old albums by DC that are worth getting?
13 - FilteringCraig
I think it is definitely worth buying, but if you are a first-time fan, I might buy Transatlanticism first because it is a little more complete and a little more cohesive from beginning to end.
14 - Matt Mrozinski
I, personally, feel that Someday You Will Be Loved is the best song on the album. That's a matter of opinion, but how do you write a review of the album without mentioning the single "Soul Meets Body"? You die-hard fans always look at the album completely different. Even if everyone agrees its a great album. We're right though, great album.
15 - FilteringCraig
Thanks for the comment Matt. At the time that I reviewed the album, there were only two songs being streamed on the band's site, and I didn't know whether "Soul Meets Body" or "Marching Bands of Manhattan" was going to be the single. Either way, I like them both a lot.
16 - mel
Great review. I have to say that I am absoloutly in love with the new album. I saw them in Bend, Oregon a few weeks ago and they were amazing! My favorite song is Soul Meets Body, but I think thats because of how much everyone reacted to it at the show. Love it
17 - Matt Mrozinski
No prob. I've never been a fan of Death Cab, because I never listened. But this Album really is good. One of my favorites of the year.
18 - adam
Def cab for cutie hits the mad note each album is majestic and chill i frist heard the Postal Service on a snowboarding viedo called lame and is was genius it was the snowboarding anthem for the season. Well Def cab ... in my oppinion is the one of the greatest current bands. Well keep it up...........................
19 - Nessa Tabrizy
I am sick of hearing all these people whining about the new album "Plans." I personally think that this album is amazing, and comes to show how much talent that Death cab has to bring. I have been a fan of death cab for 7 years, and have every album and Ep. With every album Death cab is getting better and better, Ben is a gifted song writer with a voice like no one else. Who cares if they are popular now, thats better for them. I will follow you into the dark has to be the best song, being both played, recorded and sung by Ben.
20 - death cab fan
New interview with Ben Gibbard on Hard Rock Live site
21 - Eddy
i personally loved this new album. i dont care what anyone else say about it. its one of those albums i can listen to all the way through and just enjoy it thoroughly. i like this new more acoustic sound better than their former heavier guitar work. i think this will album will help boost their career even higher and i think everyone out there should buy the album.
22 - Dennis Scanland
Here's another review of Plans. Enjoy. I had the great opportunity to see them live last month. They put on a great show.