Death Cab for Cutie has officially joined Atlantic Records. Ben Gibbard claims on the Death Cab website that the only difference now that they are on a major label is that the Atlantic symbol will be displayed on the spine of their upcoming releases. While I am sure that is some hyperbole, I do believe that the band will be able to continue to operate almost entirely the exact same way as they did prior to signing the deal, due to a couple of key factors.
First, Death Cab is not an arena rock band. They have no potential of becoming the next arena rock band. Thus, I don't think Atlantic will make the mistake of trying to make them the next arena rock band. This band plays very well to large theaters and clubs, but they don't have enough bombast to really fill out some of the larger basketball arenas around the country. They are not particularly "crazy" onstage and their music is also very subdued in spots, so I think they will continue to play to that size audience.
Secondly, they don't have to worry about Atlantic trying to throw a bunch of crazy recording and production resources at the band. Chris Walla (guitar for Death Cab) is a pretty well-known producer around indie circles and I am quite sure that he will continue to produce the band going forward. So, while I think we could continue to hear the band's sound develop, I don't think we will get some crazy deviation from the sound that they have developed from in the past.
As a result of these two main factors, I tend to think Ben Gibbard is telling the truth when he says not much will change for the band. Oh, and the good news is that the band is apparently already working on their first album for Atlantic coming up shortly. So, we won't have to wait too long to figure out exactly how the band will react musically (if at all) to the new deal they have signed.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Pitchforkmedia says that Barsuk will release a live EP soon. They've been the harbingers of doom for the band since Transatlantic came out and their take on this move is predictably sour. I can't imagine the band changing, but the big labels do have a way of forcing bands to do things they don't want to do, like giving up their choice of producer for someone who might coax a more commercial, hit-single friendly sound out of them (and thereby destroying what made people like them in the first place.) I hope it doesn't happen, but it is kind of strange to see that they're touring with Blink 182, of all bands, opening for them.
2 - Craig Lyndall
I would agree with you 100% if their producer wasn't a member of the band. Still, maybe my thoughts are rooted in wishful thinking. I would hate to think that these guys would be anything but what they are or a progressed version of what they are.