Music 10K: 60. Plans

Plans by Death Cab for Cutie
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

You know, some people think that Death Cab is too emo of a band to even be tolerable to listen to, but these guys make some very tender, sensitive tunes that are poignant and heart piercing, and I don't necessarily think there's anything corny about that.

"Marching Bands of Manhattan" is a lovely track, but of course, there's a kind of sadness in the lyrics that really gets under the skin. It's Death Cab at their height and one of the signature pieces on the album.

"Soul Meets Body" is a beautifully fragile piece of music and Gibbard's gentle vocals seem to take you to a deeper place within. This is probably one of my favorite tracks. I love the melodic progression and resolution in the strumming of guitars in the chorus. There's a certain determined strength in its gentleness. It ends on an ethereal note, which I find to be just right.

"Summer Skin" has a wonderful marching band rhythm and a wandering bass line that is unusual. The melody and lyrics are haunting and thought-provoking. It's hard to listen to an album like this if you've had any sort of heartbreak. Many of the songs touch on loss.

"Different Names for the Same Thing" takes on a more traditional character with the simplicity of the piano and the music sounding as if it is coming from an old record player. The poetry of the lyrics is what makes Death Cab a band that is known for intelligent songwriting. The break in tradition comes midway through the song with the sparkly electronics. Very sweet and beautiful piece.

"I Will Follow You into the Dark" is a hard one for me to listen to because it is so beautiful. All it is, is an acoustic guitar and Gibbard singing. That's really all that's needed. It's a love song in every sense.

"Your Heart Is an Empty Room" has some really lovely, echoing guitars that sing. Yes, the sensitive storytelling of this band may be too much for some, and may even be too much for me because it's easy to get emotional listening to these pieces.

The catchy quality of "Crooked Teeth" makes for another signature Death Cab song to add to their catalog of many likable tunes. The combination of musical sensibility and smart lyrics delivers an album that is easy on the ears (while at times heavy on the heart), but nonetheless an excellent collection of pieces.

"What Sarah Said" touches on death and is a difficult one to listen to if you've ever lost anyone that way. "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" is obviously about no longer meeting heart to heart.

It's refreshing to know that this band isn't afraid to address these subjects. With all the superficiality we constantly are exposed to when it comes to the world of entertainment, here's a band that really is trying to remain true to its message and art. That message points to love and life.