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Death Cab shows confidence on 'Steadier Footing' Originally published Oct. 5, 2001 ROSS RAIHALA
Given the confidence of its new album, it's quite appropriate that Death Cab for Cutie called the disc's first song "Steadier Footing."
Don't get me wrong -- "The Photo Album" (out Tuesday on Seattle's Barsuk Records) still features delicate songs about delicate relationships between even more delicate boys and girls. But whatever tentativeness the band showed on its previous two records has been replaced by an appealing sense of purpose.
Death Cab for Cutie emerged from Bellingham back in 1998 with the cassette-only "You Can Play These Songs with Chords" and the proper debut "Something About Airplanes." They gleaned plenty of attention on the strength of lead singer Benjamin Gibbard's fragile vocals and introspective lyrics.
They followed up by moving to Seattle and releasing "We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes" last year. The record earned Death Cab for Cutie continued comparisons to Elliott Smith, Built to Spill, Quasi, Superchunk and/or Sunny Day Real Estate. It also hit numerous year-end rock critic lists and was named one of the year's "Worthwhile Albums Most People Missed" in the New York Times.
But it was the band's second release of 2000, the "Forbidden Love" mini-album, that best suggests the leap that is "The Photo Album."
"Forbidden Love" featured Gibbard's strongest work to date, with new and actually improved versions of two "We Have the Facts" tracks making for a remarkably consistent collection.
"The Photo Album" continues that upward spiral with 10 well-produced and efficient numbers that will surely have the major labels come a-knocking.
"Why You'd Want to Live Here" is a bittersweet, back-stabbing ode to Los Angeles, while "We Laugh Indoors" features a rock-out mid-section in which Gibbard's vocals eerily recall Brian Molko of the British goth trio Placebo.
"I Was a Kaleidoscope," meanwhile, is the closest Death Cab for Cutie has come to full-out pop.
It makes sense, then, that the song was chosen for the band's first music video.
The band will shoot it on Sunday and Monday in Seattle and have asked fans for help.
Invitations to appear in the video will be given out during the band's two concerts at the Crocodile Cafe tonight in Seattle. They'll play an all-ages set at 5:30 p.m. followed by a 9:30 I.D. show.
The video shoot will follow at noon Sunday and noon Monday at the Breakroom.
According to the Barsuk Web site: "No experience is necessary. No glamour should be expected. Just be willing to spend a big chunk of your day pretending to be at a rock show ... (those involved) will receive a limited edition DCFC poster and the sincere appreciation of the band and filmmakers. We can't do it without you. Bring two shirts and something to read."
Those who can't make it for the video will be happy to know there's a special edition of "The Photo Album" available only at live shows and through the Web site www.barsuk.com. It features a bonus CD with three extra tracks, one of which is a cover version of Bjork's "All Is Full of Love."
Oly rock city
Of course, those who don't make it to Seattle tonight for Death Cab for Cutie have plenty to see right here in Olympia.
During Arts Walk, the fab duo of K Records' Dub Narcotic Sound System and Kill Rock Stars' Unwound will play a free show on the Teen Stage on the intersection of Franklin Street and Olympia Avenue.
Monday night, Portland's Get Hustle will play Le Voyeur Cafe and Bar, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. The trio is signed to 5RC, the offshoot label that's not really an offshoot label of Kill Rock Stars.
Seattle Saturday night
Saturday's a big one in Seattle, folks:
- Slightly spooky Quarterstick chanteuse Tara Jane O'Neil plays the Breakroom with Thalia Zedek (of Come).
- The shy and retiring Pedro the Lion will quietly storm the Showbox.
- Over at the Crocodile Cafe, the wonderful Apples in Stereo play a set with the Minders.
- Southern Culture On The Skids finishes up a two-night gig at Graceland.
- Bob Dylan celebrates his well-received new album "Love and Theft" by stopping at KeyArena.
'Smooth' and criminals
Those interested in the more pop-oriented side of new metal will want to check out the Seattle Experience Music Project on Monday night.
Alien Ant Farm -- the band responsible for the witty and increasingly inescapable cover version of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" -- headlines the show, which also features new act Pressure 4-5. That band released its debut album "Burning the Process" on Tuesday.
Expect big things from Pressure 4-5, if only because they're signed to DreamWorks, a label that seems to be having tremendous success with plenty of other bands not necessarily concerned with being that original, i.e. the Jeff Buckley clones Ours and Creed wannabes Lifehouse.
Ross Raihala didn't have space this week for a Top 10, but is still seeking music-related lists from readers. He can be reached via e-mail at OlyRoss@aol.com. The Olympian Copyright 2001 |
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