Death Cab For Cutie: 21st Century Masters

I used to joke that The Weeknd was born when an A&R man held a cursed monkey’s paw and “I wish for a Michael Jackson who’s just, like, a dude. A normal dude.” From this plea to the supernatural, we got a chart-topping pop-R&B falsetto king who was infinitely less eccentric than Jackson, infinitely less desperate to please, a lot less fascinating, and happy to rewrite “Dirty Diana” over and over and over. Similarly, you could imagine Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie as that A&R man’s vision of a “normal” Michael Stipe. No lyrical ambiguity, no sexual ambiguity, just an arresting, emotive voice emitting from an amiable indie rando, happy to drop clumsy rhymes and mildly artsy metaphors about fraught relationships with the ladies and his own ego until the end of time. Or maybe the A&R man asked for an American Sting without jazz pretensions, or any pretensions beyond the parameters of “alternative” rock. 

The problem with this joke is that the person wishing on the monkey’s paw is supposed to regret it. So far, Ben Gibbard and The Weeknd have only disappointed those too old or too hip to get what the big deal is. From an A&R perspective, both guys are a win. Sure, Death Cab’s 2022 album Asphalt Meadows was commercially underwhelming. But a year later, Gibbard toured arenas celebrating the 20th anniversaries of Transantlanticism, Death Cab’s last indie release, and Give Up, the sole album by his synth-pop sideproject The Postal Service. How many ‘00s bands are still touring arenas and putting out flops on a major now, anyway?

My relationship with Death Cab For Cutie is a little atypical, as I heard their debut Something About Airplanes when it appeared in 1998 (fellow college radio DJs dug it), but I didn’t get on board until 2008’s Narrow Stairs, when they turned hooky and hard enough that I could finally hear them as alternative rock instead of mewling emo pop. Whether it was commercial radio influence, playing bigger rooms, having bigger budgets or just good old fashioned age and ambition, DCFC became less wan and cutesypoo in the big leagues, and - as far as I’m concerned - a lot more enjoyable. But then, I’ve always been a bit of an A&R man in my head. And a ‘90s one at that. 

While my 21st Century Masters playlist concept would allow me to include songs from almost every Death Cab album, I’m focusing solely on their Atlantic Records discography. This pseudo-compilation includes one single from each of those six albums, then six “deep cuts.” The only album not represented twice is 2015’s troubled Kintsugi, the last album to feature Chris Walla, who not just played guitar but produced all their previous releases. In place of a Kintsugi album track is “Million Dollar Loan,” a 2016 protest single that sadly hasn’t lost a bit of relevance.

If this mix makes you curious to hear more from the best major label alt-rock band of the last 20 years (admittedly more than a bit by default, with most commercial rivals distributed via The Orchard or The Beggars Group at this point): 2005’s Plans was the platinum seller graced by big ballads I’ve grown to appreciate, with Narrow Stairs and 2011’s Codes And Keys the grandly eccentric follow-ups. Kintsugi is truly transitional, but 2018’s Thank You For Today is a tight, flanged-out exercise in throwback late ‘80s college rock (Ocean Blue fans, take heed), and Asphalt Meadows is a frequently poignant portrait of COVID lockdown grief. All but Kintsugi currently sit on my shelves. Talk to someone a little younger than me, or a little more comfortable with white belts, if you want guidance on the Barsuk years.

Spotify link above, YouTube links below.

Death Cab For Cutie: 21st Century Masters

1. "Crooked Teeth" (Plans, 2005)
2. "I Will Possess Your Heart" (Narrow Stairs, 2008)
3. "You Are A Tourist" (Codes And Keys, 2011)
4. "Ghosts Of Beverly Drive" (Kintsugi, 2015)
5. "Northern Lights" (Thank You For Today, 2018
6. "Pepper" (Asphalt Meadows, 2022)
7. "I Miss Strangers" (Asphalt Meadows, 2022)
8. "60 & Punk" (Thank You For Today, 2018)
9. "Million Dollar Loan" (download, 2016)
10. "Monday Morning" (Codes And Keys, 2011)
11. "Long Division" (Narrow Stairs, 2008)
12. "Brothers On A Hotel Bed" (Plans, 2005)

Narrow Stairs is at 245 on My Top 300 Favorite Albums of All Time. I'm telling you this because I've found people are more inclined to discuss and share reviews if there's a quantitative element at the top or bottom they can easily debate. Prove me right! Direct correspondence, however, can be shipped off to anthonyisright at gmail dot com.