The early reviews for 'Plans' by Death Cab For Cutie seem to be extremely hostile towards it.

And I can't tell whether it's because the CD is bad, or because the band went to a major label.

Really..I don't care if Death Cab For Cutie sold out or not. I judge the music based on the music, and I'm not sure if the critics are doing so in some cases. Has anybody heard the CD who can comment if it's good and being crucified for moving in a mainstream direction, or if it really is awful?

I was going to get it because I liked Transatlanticism, but if it's really that mediocre, maybe not.

I love it. Actually, I think it's better than Transatlanticism (which I only think of as a great album, not the salvation of the universe like some fans).
I've been listening to it at least two times a day since I got a hold of it, and considering how much new music I have to plough through, that's a lot.
Plans and The Mysterious Production Of Eggs are definitely my favourites of the year.

I am looking forward to listening to it Tuesday. I heard the new single and loved it. They are coming to Vancouver next month, and looking to get tix. Hey, the band is headed for a bigger audience, which will draw more heads out of the sand, as well as tick some long term fans off. I'll wait and listen before I pass on my two cents, but hoping for a different sound and some well-crafted pop. Finally, some good releases to look forward to after a slow summer...

First: i've loved death cab since the photo album. i currently am torn between which of Voting Yes, Photo Album, and Trans is best. I have seen them twice live and the first time was absolutely amazing, second was pretty good (at coachella, lot of other factors with that one). I have enjoyed the turn towards more "professional" sound, their most recent drummer is amazing, and though I was bummed that they made a label move (seemed like Trans wouldn't have been improved by big studio funds, and they got huge exposure on national primetime tv, so why bother to do business with a major label?) and was a little embarrassed by the OC thing, I am basically indifferent to those things now.

So for Plans:

i think initial reactions to the single are pretty good indicators for a certain person's opinion of Plans.

I find Soul Meets Body to be cheesy in a way that Death Cab is not usually cheesy. i give ben gibbard a fair amount of room to mix metaphors, use words that don't sound like they should be sung, and throw in some cheesier poppier moments (eg "sound of settling" "movie script ending" "company calls" from their last three albums). but "soul Meets Body" feels forced and awkward with its vocals and the goofy midtempo Radio Pop Rock style accoustic strumming accompanied by the dancy-ish beat. The "climax" is totally great, typical DCab (except that bass drum), with falsetto-ish vocals and cut up rhythm.

and so it is with Plans. The first three tracks (sould meets body included) all have elements that are great, but can't sustain me through the middle. the first is pretty good but not special overall, the third has incredible production that soars in an interesing way (edited choral singing). This early trio are not amazing songs, but should have been the enjoyable warming up stage to a great album...unfortunately, they are not.

but i will continue with the good; the last three songs, while again using some of the old DCab cheese i expect and maybe secretly desire, are great in many ways. "what sarah said" and "brothers on a hotel bed" are classic new death cab. pianos and keys dominate in a quietly tense way as gibbard does what he does best, singing enough interesting things to make you forget the cheesy things he has said and singing them in a way that's uniquely his. the closer is a remake of their 2001 song "Stability," which was/is potentially my favorite death cab song. this new version is basically uncalled for and cuts out the last 9 minutes of golden guitar and atmospherics from the original. still, the melody is buried in my skull and the production is great on this one too, so it's hard to be upset about it. this version makes the song more listenable for most everyone and allows them to play it live without eating 12 minutes of stage time. that's fine by me.

but again, this cannot make up for the middle 5 tracks that sound confused ("different names for the same thing"), trite ("i will follow you into the dark") and forced (the melody of "someday you will be loved", the want-to-kinda-rock of "crooked teeth").

(btw, the 6th track "you heart is an empty room," by virtue of sequencing and because it's sort of good, shines in this section of the album, but still suffers from that straight ahead acoustic guitar strumming and U2-ish stereo panned electric guitar stabs and THAT 80's DRUM SOUND...why chris walla, why???).

i might update this a little, but for now, overall it feels like a 5/10....however, because i love death cab and plan's bookends are so dang listenable that giving less that 6/10 seems foolish for me personally. i fully expect this to get torn apart by the critics/elitists...but death cab never belonged to them, they are definitely a fan band, and this simply cements that further, in my opinion.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: not eric,

Hmm....responses are so mixed and nuanced I think I'll get it, because I doubt I'll be able to effectively predict my liking of the album based on other reactions in this case.

yeah, but you should definitely check out http://www.deathcabforcutie.com where there is a media player which includes soul meets body. i really want to buy plans, because i too liked, or maybe more like love, transatlanticism, but frankly it's just not worth my 12 bucks. do yourself a favor and test that water before you take a swim.

You can actually listen to a stream of the entire album (as long as you are willing to jump through a few licensing hoops) at the mtvU site. But not eric does a pretty good job of summing it up... personally, I was disappointed.

I have to say that the Pitchfork review is pretty much dead-on, and I am a big DCFC fan. The first track, "Marching Bands of Manhattan", is a great, anthemic opener easily on par with "The New Year" from Transatlanticism. However, I have to completely disagree with most of you guys and say that I absolutely DESPISE "Soul Meets Body". It is bland, repetitive, has no memorable hook or melody, features some of the worst lyrics Gibbard has ever written ("I want to live where soul meets body"-what on Earth does that even mean?), and is generally the most awful song DCFC has ever recorded and I think making it their first major-label single was a fatal decision that could potentially cost them mainstream success. Put simply, the song is very, very boring. But don't despair, because there are other songs that are worthwhile on this deeply flawed, equally ambitious and lazy album. "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" has a gorgeous, simple acoustic guitar melody and hauntingly sincere vocals about lovers dying together. "What Sarah Said" becomes a little bit repetitive over its six-minute runtime, but the lyrics about waiting in the hospital as a lover is dying are beautifully observed, eloquent, and painfully honest. This song also features the album's best lyric: "Love is watching someone die/So who's gonna watch you die?". Actually, the shadow of death hangs heavily over almost this entire album, and that is a strange choice for a major-label debut, but also a brave one. If only the songs were as consistent as their themes, "Plans" could have been a truly great album. Instead, it is entirely mediocre: not nearly the disaster it could have been, but not even close to a worthy follow-up to Transatlanticism. Whether this is a worse fate than being entirely terrible is a decision DCFC fans, both new and old, will have to make for themselves.

I liked the album at first, but then I suddenly stopped liking it. I'd elaborate why, but it'd be redundant with the review on my LJ.

I think it's a pretty good record, and on a par with the highly lauded Transatlanticism. I think that is also a good record, but slightly overrated by some.

I like the pace and flow of Plans, and I think a lot of the hostility has more to do with the media blitz, the major label, and the OC appearances than the actual quality of the songs and music, which is quite good.

As far the lyrical content, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the lyrics of past DCFC records, but there's something genuinely touching about the words to "I Will Follow You..." I agree that some of the lines, and the general conceit, of "Soul Meets Body" is a little weak, but I've never confused Gibbard's words with Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen.

i like the new album from Death Cab for Cutie, i've been listening to it for the past couple of weeks but to be honest i would say i am a bigger fan of the postal service

After repeated listenings...this album is great. The single 'Soul meets Body' seemed like it didn't fit at first, and ticked me off with the flow, but it is better after deepened listens and like the way it cuts up in the middle. The CD is full of amizing tunes and will be a close race in my top 5. Marching Bands of Manhattan is superb as an opener, Summer Skin, Diff Names...., Someday You Will Be Loved and Brothers on a Hotel Bed are all very strong songs.

Definitely buy it. Especially if you're a DCfC fan. I really enjoy this album. Like most people it seemed over-produced(and probably is compared to their Barsuk releases) at first listen, but it's just as well written as any of their other albums and the music is still holds to their style.

It's poppy yes, but it's good pop. Give it a shot.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I think it's a pretty good record, and on a par with the highly lauded Transatlanticism. I think that is also a good record, but slightly overrated by some.

I like the pace and flow of Plans, and I think a lot of the hostility has more to do with the media blitz, the major label, and the OC appearances than the actual quality of the songs and music, which is quite good.

As far the lyrical content, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the lyrics of past DCFC records, but there's something genuinely touching about the words to "I Will Follow You..." I agree that some of the lines, and the general conceit, of "Soul Meets Body" is a little weak, but I've never confused Gibbard's words with Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen.

I just can't believe that anyone could honestly believe that Plans is on the same level as Transatlanticism. Seeing Death Cab Live on August 25th concreted that in my mind. Surprsingly, they played more songs off old albums than Plans - thankfully.

Transatlanticism is a real ALBUM that few bands ever even attempt to make - one with a cohesive theme, an idea stretched into 11 songs without become boring and repetitive. The title track is a thesis if I've ever heard one.

Plans shows me a Death Cab that decided to make songs, and nothing more. This would have been alright if all the songs ended up good - but that is simply not the case. Summer Skin, Different Names for the Same Thing, Stable Song, Brothers on a Bed, and Soul Meets Body are among the weakest tracks in their catalogue.

I like Transatlanticism. I think it's a good record that could've been a lot better if they'd excluded a couple songs that just annoy the hell out of me, namely "The Sound of Settling" and "Death of An Interior Decorater." God, those songs are awful.

quote:

Originally posted by not eric:
First: i've loved death cab since the photo album. i currently am torn between which of Voting Yes, Photo Album, and Trans is best. I have seen them twice live and the first time was absolutely amazing, second was pretty good (at coachella, lot of other factors with that one). I have enjoyed the turn towards more "professional" sound, their most recent drummer is amazing, and though I was bummed that they made a label move (seemed like Trans wouldn't have been improved by big studio funds, and they got huge exposure on national primetime tv, so why bother to do business with a major label?) and was a little embarrassed by the OC thing, I am basically indifferent to those things now.

So for Plans:

i think initial reactions to the single are pretty good indicators for a certain person's opinion of Plans.

I find Soul Meets Body to be cheesy in a way that Death Cab is not usually cheesy. i give ben gibbard a fair amount of room to mix metaphors, use words that don't sound like they should be sung, and throw in some cheesier poppier moments (eg "sound of settling" "movie script ending" "company calls" from their last three albums). but "soul Meets Body" feels forced and awkward with its vocals and the goofy midtempo Radio Pop Rock style accoustic strumming accompanied by the dancy-ish beat. The "climax" is totally great, typical DCab (except that bass drum), with falsetto-ish vocals and cut up rhythm.

and so it is with Plans. The first three tracks (sould meets body included) all have elements that are great, but can't sustain me through the middle. the first is pretty good but not special overall, the third has incredible production that soars in an interesing way (edited choral singing). This early trio are not amazing songs, but should have been the enjoyable warming up stage to a great album...unfortunately, they are not.

but i will continue with the good; the last three songs, while again using some of the old DCab cheese i expect and maybe secretly desire, are great in many ways. "what sarah said" and "brothers on a hotel bed" are classic new death cab. pianos and keys dominate in a quietly tense way as gibbard does what he does best, singing enough interesting things to make you forget the cheesy things he has said and singing them in a way that's uniquely his.

...
(btw, the 6th track "you heart is an empty room," by virtue of sequencing and because it's sort of good, shines in this section of the album, but still suffers from that straight ahead acoustic guitar strumming and U2-ish stereo panned electric guitar stabs and THAT 80's DRUM SOUND...why chris walla, why???).
.

True, true. I'm a fan of DcfC on the strength of Transatlanticism (which has its highs and lows but is interesting enough to sing along to), and PLans blew me away when I heard it. There isn't a single song I can't listen to on it, cheese or no (and ben gibbard is the king of vocal and lyrical cheese, I know. He's silly live, too.).

I think what makes it intersting is things like "love is watching someone die". How can one listen and not be stopped by a line like that?

Brothers on a Hotel Bed is interesting too- I like the metaphor, it's good and vivid.

And I would put forth that Plans does have some cohesiveness, in sound if not necessarily in theme. They sound like they go together, no?

Anyway, i'm very biased because it's my favorite album of 2005 for personal, sonic reasons that I couldn't really explain.

-E

While Plans may not be the next Transatlanticism, it is still a catchy album.

My personal favourite song is "I Will Follow You Into the Dark". It reminded me of an issue of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac when Johnny goes to heaven and hell and neither want him. I could also relate well to the Catholic school verse.

"Crooked Teeth" was also awesome. It has very catchy lyrics and melody. I could sing along with the song after listening to it only twice. Of the whole album, my favourite line is "and now the state line felt like the Berlin wall". Reminds me of The Mountain Goats's lyrics a lot.

The only song that I don't care for is "Some Day You Will Be Loved". The lyrics are amazing but the chorus melody is horrible and painfully repeatious.


(P.S. I was listening to "Summer Skin" and then decided to check out DCFC's website. "Summer Skin" was also playing on the website and matched the beat perfectly. Creepy. I didn't even realize it until the lyrics began to play.)

Anyone who thinks that Plans isn't cohesive obviously hasn't listened very carefully. Here's how subtle and brilliant Gibbard is: In "What Sarah Said" he sings "Every plan is a tiny prayer to Father Time." The album is called "Plans," which makes each song a "tiny prayer." It's a connection that has to be made if one is going to appreciate this album for it's true genius.

I've never held Death Cab up as geniuses of modern indie rock, so perhaps that's why I wasn't enormously disappointed by Plans. It's a pretty solid album; a few catchy songs, and Brothers on a Hotel Bed has some of the best lyrics Ben's ever written. (And whoever said this album was themeless? Love and death, anyone?) I can't say it was one of my favorite albums ever, but it is one that I can put on at any point and enjoy.

it really didn't impress me until this past summer. a lot of personal stuff made me enjoy it a lot more, and I think it's turning into one of their best. it seems like such a huge departure, which hurt it at first, but now I think I can see it for what it is. death cab gone darker. I dig it.