Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
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Free Music Notes for Transatlanticism
Free Music Review: Breathtaking...if you allow it to be.
Hit: 5 Stars
With DCFC 2003 release one is treated with emo that truely does put emotions into music. After first listening, one probably comes away thinking this is step backward for the band producing really poppy tunes and ballads that are too long. At least that is how I sort of felt though not that appalled. After setting it aside for months though, I regained interest and have to agree with the critics on this one; Transatlanticism is truelly breathtaking. I mean to say that the songs that first stood out simply because they were standard pop songs i.e. 'The Sound of Settling', Death of An Interior Decorator' no longer were the only tune that were worth listening to. Once I understood the disk, I grew to love all of it.
It is very safe to say that the ballads are what make this record so appealing time and time again though. I actually would be so bold as to say that 'Transatlanticism' and 'Passenger Seat' are perhaps the best songs of 2003. In them Ben Gibbard exemplifies why he is such a poet. The minimal piano accompaniment in each simply adds to the mood created. In these songs, Gibbard sings of longing and hope respectably. Such topics have rarely been expressed better than here. With these two statements and the rest of the album for that matter, Ben has risen in my mind to an Elliott Smith, Nick Drake status not because of his lyrics which are good but not great but because of his way of singing that makes anything sound wonderfully poetic.
Every song in the collection proves to be rewarding in the end and fit perfectly alongside eachother. In particular, I really enjoy how 'The New Year' starts the CD off very boldly and how 'A Lack of Color' ends it by basically summing up the transgretion of songs by providing hope and reason explaining that now is "Fact not Fiction" and doing so in a melancholic manner, perfectly concluding the record.
If you are deliberating amongst yourself whether or not to purchase this, you really need only to consider one thing as long as you understand what kind of music DCFC makes. The only question is whether or not you can appreciate beautifully written ballads that force the listener to connect with the lyrics. If you cannot afford the compassion and sentiment needed and don't seek melancholic songs that often are depressing, this is not going to resonate with you.
Free Music Review: Death Cab Lives!
Hit: 5 Stars
I took this album with me, without having listened to it once with me to Colorado last year when I went on a week-long mission trip. It defined the trip for me. The unity and the inter-relatedness of the songs is incredible, you feel like you're listening to one big song with different aspects as opposed to little songs. This unity becomes even more evident when at the end of many of the songs they have little sounds trascend tracks (i.e. the sorta hootin sound at the end of new year into lightness, and the train track sound from tiny vessels into trans). Infact, I just realized a few days ago (sorry if any other reviewer has commented on the fact) that if you put the album on full repeat, the last track "A Lack of Color" has fading out sounds that fade into the first songs fade in, it's literally seemless, a witty way to give a sense of cohesion -- the album never ends.
Ben is proving himself to be quite an all around musical master and the new Death Cab album will be sure to delight. Death Cab's eerie yet enduring style has the power to send chills down your back with ever single track. It's hard to even describe the style, but it's sort of like a hollowed out version of The Shins, like the Shins got really heartbroken and down and out, and then went to record in Antartica.
I have a tendency to have a penchant for more melancholy tunes and consequently songs 6-8 "Tiny Vessels," "Transatlantisicm," (The Title Track) and "Passenger Seat" are my favorites on the album. Tiny Vessels is the account of getting on a girl just because you can, and it meaning absolutely nothing, but you do it. Transatlantiscism's opening verse is my favorite in all songs with the exception of the last one in Fold's "Luckiest" it's a poetic telling of long-distance love. Finally "Passenger Seat" puts you in the passenger seat, you can literally feel everything that happens as it does, as if you're living the song, that's quite a power for a song writer to exude.
As I said before, this album defined my trip to Colorado, the songs made the feelings I felt, the songs spoke the words I said, and the songs wrote out the life I was living there. It was the perfect companion for the trip. I'm going on that trip again this year (but to Minnesota) and I can assure you, Death Cab will be my musical guide for the trip.
Free Music Review: The crossing to Atlantic
Hit: 5 Stars
Does anyone else find it ironic that DCfC's album before they switched to Atlantic Records is called Transatlanticism? Oh well....
The album itself is great. There's not a bad song and from"The New Year" to "Transatlanticism" every song is genius. The lyrics are heartfelt and Gibbard's vocals complement these perfectly. The best songs on here are "The New Year", "Title and Registration", "Tiny Vessels", "The Sound of Settling", "Transatlanticism", and "A Lack of Color".
"The New Year" is blazing chords and pounding drums. A serious rocker; Gibbard's lyrics hit home when he says "I wish the world was flat like the old days/And I could travel just by folding the map". Great song. 5/5
"Lightness" Very bass-driven, with Gibbard's free-sounding vocals of "Eyes reach/Minds speak/Ohhh". Interesting. 4.5/5
"Title And Registration" One of the best songs ever written. Guitar part is great and the handbell solo at the end is very melodic and beautiful. A great ballad. I would get the CD FOR THIS SONG! 5/5
"Expo '86" is another experimentation. Throughout the song, I "am waiting for something to go wrong" but nothing does. It works. 4.5/5
"The Sound of Settling" It's short but has a very feel-good song and this song alone has attracted a cult following. Nothing bad to say about it. 4.99/5
"Tiny Vessels" Another classic, one of the best ever penned. The lyrics are amazing and the vocals are too. This is stunning. 5/5
"Transatlanticism" This is brilliance, pure and simple. Just gorgeous. Not too many notes, it's directed by Gibbard's piano/vocals and Chris Walla's guitar. 5/5
"Passenger Seat" is a ballad that I like very much. It's classic Death Cab. 4.99/5
"Death of An..." Very interesting and experimental. Lyrics are unique and the instrumentation shines. 4/5
"We Looked Like Giants" A rocker, possibly the hardest on the CD. Lyrics are very personal and in your face. 5/5
"A Lack Of Color" It's genius what else can I say. Perfect way to end the CD. 5/5
Well, that's it! BUY THIS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE IT! Peace! God Bless!
Free Music Review: Perfect.
Hit: 5 Stars
First, I'm not under 13 (I didn't want to sign up on amazon.com), so don't blow off what I write as as worthless, written by someone who doesn't know music.
This album is a work of art, any way you look at it. If you're the kind of person who listens to a song looking for a tune that will stay in your head for weeks on end, this album has it. If you, like I do, listen to music for a more profound purpose - you actually listen to the lyrics, assessing their depth and relevance, then I honestly cannot understand how you could walk away from this album without fully believing that Benjamin Gibbard is the most talented musician alive. His songs are full of passion, inspired by God-knows-what, but it's amazing. The lyrics are by far the best I've ever heard; they changed my entire perspective regarding what constitutes truly good music. I would have bought this album had it been Ben reading his lyrics into the mic with no guitar. I read one review about how this album is repetitive. That's a lie so don't believe it. The songs on this album are incredibly diverse, both in their musical sound and lyrical compositions. If you're already a fan of previous Death Cab albums, then you know what I'm talking about regarding the amazing lyrical quality, and Transatlanticism is right on par. The sound, however, is a little different - in no way a bad thing. It just takes the genius of Death Cab and expands it over a wider musical spectrum, and it's perfect. Every track sounds extremely solid, very well put-together. There's a sense of maturity and passion that other bands simply cannot imitate. Transatlanticism is a CD that could change your life. Sure, that sounds cliche and as through written on impulse after an amazing first-listen, but it's true. I've had this CD for months and not a day has gone by that I haven't listened to it straight through. You don't press skip on this album. You wouldn't want to. If you're looking for music that goes deeper than the sh*t they stream endlessly on the airwaves, then pick this up and prepare to be amazed.
Free Music Review: amazed
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, this isn't a review by a child. This album has touched me, helped me, inspired me, moved me. This is by far the finest piece of lyrical and extreme musical genius i have come across in years. Get this and you will not be disappointed.
1.The New Year: upbeat, but not repulsively happy. a real attention grabber. 5/5
2.Lightness: not the most fabulous song on the album, but very honest and clear. 4/5
3.Title and Registration: one of the best songs I've heard in a long time. The music's addictive. The lyrics are brilliant, going from a whimsical commentary on how the glove compartment really shoudn't be called that and moving on smoothly and elegantly to speak of a past rediscovered where gloves should be found. wow. 6/5
4.Expo '86: upbeat tempo, with rather melancholy lyric. it's great. 4.5/5
5.The lyrics are incredible, but the music just isn't all that compelling. still good though. 4/5
6.Tiny Vessels: true, honest, revealing, calming, this is beautiful. 5/5
7.Transatlanticism: clearly one of the most amazing songs ever. 8 minutes sounds like a long song, but you can absoluely lose yourself in its hauntingly gorgeous melody. This is ingenious. 6/5
8.Passenger Seat: it's such a simple song, baisically just piano and ben singing, but it's incredible. you can just feel each refreshed and calm breath the song holds. 5/5
9.Death of an Interior Decorator: a fine song, just not my thing really. it's different from the rest of the album. don't relaly have that much of a view on it.
10.We Looked like Giants: this is where they really rock out. a lot of emotion, not too much though. so good! 6/5
11.A lack of Color: pretty much the best closing song this album could possibly have. there is an element of straight forward honesty never before reached. 5.5/6
I believe this album is one of the finest ever, and am blown away.
Death Cab for Cutie....can they do no wrong? I don't believe so.