Death Cab for Cutie - The Stability EP

List Price: $5.19
Our Price: $5.15
You Save: $4.79 (48%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.99 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases

Music CD Cover

Free Music Notes for The Stability EP

Free Music Review: Excellent EP focuses on limited-release songs
Hit: 5 Stars

The Stability EP gathers the three tracks that only appeared on the initial pressing (and Japanese release) of their record The Photo Album, providing an easier way for folks to get ahold of these tracks. Yeah, there are only three tracks here, but the playing time of the EP clocks in around three minutes.

Music-wise, the album seems to focus around the slower (make that slowest) aspects of the band, hinted at on The Photo Album. Sure, Death Cab's sophomore album, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, definitely takes its time as a whole, but this is different in such a way I can't really put a finger on it.

The EP opens up with "20th Century Towers," which barely crawls along at any pace whatsoever. This isn't bad, either. The left/right channel guitar interplay between Ben Gibbard and Chris Walla, especially at the end of the song, is quite captivating, as is the sole instance the entire band chimes in for an a capella line. For any DCFC fan who is used to the faster, fuzzier tracks of days past, this is a shocking and somewhat pleasant experience.

Next up is a cover of Björk's "All is Full of Love." The band does the song justice, though not much is changed. This tracks is the most propulsive on the EP, mostly in part to recently-departed drummer Michael Schorr's flurriful drum beat (using toms and brushes to a great effect).

The final song, "Stability," seems to be the track that irks most reviewers off. This tune is close to 12 minutes, with over half of it focused on the same melody played over and over and over. This might be off-putting at first, but the song eventually gets itself burrowed into your skull until it won't leave. After Gibbard's 30-some second piano intro, the track plods along with vocals (backing vox thanks to labelmate John Vanderslice, who adds some nice Juno synth to the track too). The song eventually coasts to a sadly beautiful guitar line that continues for...well...quite some time.

Basically, these are three great songs that might take some getting used to. If you don't enjoy anything that isn't "peppy," then steer clear of this EP. Anyone else will probably be rewarded with a collection of songs that serve as a great counterpoint to Death Cab's faster material.

Alternative Rock Music CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• Rock