Retracing Steps -- Track by Track on "Narrow Stairs"

I wanted to do this, then gave up, but changed my mind again -- so here we go with a track by track review of Death Cab for Cutie's "Narrow Stairs".

Track 1 - Bixby Canyon Ridge: This one starts off a little rough, but gets better as it winds along. This is definitely the type of track that needs a little time to grow on you before it hits that typical Death Cab place of floating around your head for days on end. I always pay particular attention to the opening track of any album because it sets the tone. Death Cab has done a mostly good job in choosing these songs...."Title Track", "The New Year" and "Marching Bands of Manhattan" are among my favorite songs by the band, and I doubt that its any accident that these are from the albums I count as my 3 favorite by the band.

Track 2 - I Will Possess Your Heart: This is a fantastic song. This isn't a band that excels at the extended jam, and rather than try here, they simply let the song build to the verse and chorus. Brilliant, and it will stick in your mind (I had to fight the urge to use "possess your..." there). Lyrically, this might be the creepiest song I've heard since "Every Breath You Take" by the Police.

Track 3 - No Sunshine: Didn't like it at first. Too bouncy, too cheesy. Saw the video the other day, and it's a rare glimpse into the sense of humor of a band that doesn't display it on record all that much. Since seeing the video, the song's been stuck in my head. So not an all time classic or anything, but a great pop song with some darker-than-you'd expect lyrics.

Track 4 - Cath....: One reason I was curious to hear this song...my wife is Katherine, goes by Kate, and HATES to be called Kathy and nears violence when she hears Kath. The opening guitar riff drew me in, and this became my favorite song on the album. There is always at least one song on each Death Cab album that compels you to dissect the lyrics and understand the story behind them. "Title and Registration", "What Sarah Said...", "Styrofoam Plates"....This one belongs with all of them. It's also the first Death Cab song I can think of that would sound just as much at home on another album as it does on it's own album. This one would fit perfectly on "We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes." That's a good thing if you don't know that album.

Track 5 - Talking Bird: Another thing every Death Cab album has featured is a song that just never clicks with me. So far, I skip this one every time through. Sometimes, these songs come back around, but I don't think this one will.

Track 6 - You Can Do Better Than Me: Prototypical Death Cab lyrics and song title. Musically, it sounds like an old Beach Boys song. A good track, but not one that transcends that "I'm in the mood to listen to DCFC" thing, so would be skipworthy in some cases.

Track 7 - Grapevine Fires: This might not make much sense, I suppose, but while "Cath..." is my favorite track on the album, "Grapevine Fires" is the best song. The lyrics are about the wildfires in California, but what makes this a great song is that you can dive into the lyrics and be rewarded, but musically, it's laid back piano shuffle is just as great. This belongs among the best of Death Cab, without a doubt.

Track 8 - Your New Twin Size Bed: Another prototypical Death Cab affair, but I like this one better than track 6. Nothing all that special about it, aside from that.

Track 9 - Long Division: Another standout. This is the closest they come to rocking out. The opening drums/bass rhythm suggest this might be a retread of "We Laugh Indoors", but from there it reminds me more of "Company Calls" than "Indoors"....that is also a good thing. This one will stick in your head, too.

Track 10 - Pity and Fear: It is not often that Death Cab reminds me of the Dave Matthews Band -- OK, never is a better word -- but this one does. DMB's "Before These Crowded Streets" featured several songs that had a middle eastern vibe to them, and that was the band's big departure from the norm at the time. That's immediately what I thought of when I first listened to this song. It's easily the most different Death Cab song I can think of, and for that alone it's a standout. Having said that, it's not a song that would have a place in your mind when taken outside of the album.

Track 11 - The Ice is Getting Thinner: Not bad, but this sounds like another version of "The Stable Song", which of course was a reworking of "Stableness". Fitting closer to the album, but not a strong track on its own.

Overall opinion -- Even with the benefit of some time to really digest the album, this one falls just short of my expectations. To be fair, my expectations were pretty high, so that's not to suggest that this isn't a very good album. "Transatlanticism" was my first exposure to DCFC, and remains my favorite. From there, I worked backwards and found that all of their work was solid, and often great. "Plans" stuck with me instantly -- I remember that just after buying that album, I felt like I had to listen to it at least once a day, which is a practice I haven't fallen into since high school when I couldn't afford a new album every couple of weeks. "Narrow Stairs" isn't sticking with me quite the same way. What I do really like about the album is that it's a proper album, much like all of Death Cab's outings besides "The Photo Album". The tracks each have their own merits, but are much better as part of a whole than most could possibly be on their own. That is something that is becoming more and more rare in today's music world. Another thing that I've liked about all of Death Cab's albums, and it's especially true here....There's room for 14 or 15 tracks on a CD, but Death Cab keeps things to 11 songs. While there is that one track that I don't like, it's a stronger album for keeping the skip-worthy fair to a minimum. If you're a fan of this band, you will like what you hear (you probably also have had this album for several weeks). If you're new to the band, this isn't a bad place to start, but there are better choices.