Album Of The Month - May: Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

May was a far better month for music that April. There was the genius that is For Emma, Forever Ago by Justin Vernon under the name of Bon Iver. Also, Pendulum released the follow up to 2005's Hold Your Colour, In Silico. Both of which I really like, though neither come close to what was always going to be the album of the month. Death Cab For Cutie's 6th studio album Narrow Stairs.

I have been waiting for this album since I got into this band last summer. I'd listened to 2005's Plans around the time of it's release but never really paid them much attention, however, since I discovered their other albums last summer, they have quickly become one of my favourite bands.

I was apprehensive as clicked download, partly because of all the fakes that had been circling the internet and getting me excited only to disappoint, but mainly because this is the first DCFC album to be released since I got into them and I had no idea what to expect. I'd heard so many mixed opinions of it, reviewers that had previously hated the band saying it was amazing and many people saying the band had completely changed their approach and ideas about music.

I'll start with the obvious point, there is clearly a change in sound here, but it has definitely been exaggerate. The major difference is the recording method, for the first time in ages the band have recorded the album live in the studio all at once rather than using various, seperately recorded tracks as was done on Plans. This results in a far more raw sound, the music at the end of opener Bixby Canyon Bridge is just static, something that you'd never had found on Plans.

As far as the lyrics go, Narrow Stairs probably isn't Ben at his best (to find this, see 2001's The Photo Album), but it's still stunning in parts. It follows much the same pattern as previous DCFC albums lyrically, telling story's of loneliness (Your New Twin Sized Bed) and failed relationships (The Ice Is Getting Thinner). You Can Do Better Than Me stands out in particular, and the line "I'm beginning to think we stay together out of fear of dying alone" is especially poignant.

Musically, there is clearly something different about this record beyond the record technique. At points they have hit the button marked "epic", such as first single I Will Possess Your Heart or the stunning Grapevine Fires. However, DCFC also show their talents to write perfect indie-pop (No Sunlight, Long Division) and slow, rumbling ballads (Talking Bird). Various aspects show the bands musical talent it ways previous albums haven't managed to, the drums in particular stand out in a way they haven't on previous albums. The ending of Pity & Fear is something I'm especially looking forward to hearing live.

There are echoes of past DCFC here. Cath..., is classic Ben lyrically, but the guitar has that little bit extra to it. This is feel the entire album gives, it's classic DCFC, with that little bit extra added. Theres such a sense that the only reason these 11 tracks are on this record is because the band themselves love them, they have clearly worked really hard on creating a new sound they love and you get the sense they made this album for themselves more than anyone else. Saying that, Narrow Stairs doesn't sound self-involved in the slightest, theres just a sense of "we hope you like this, we do", rather than then "heres our single and 10 other tracks that sound like it" that so many bands put out nowadays.

Narrow Stairs is a stunning album, it just takes a bit of getting used to after having listened to DCFC's other albums so much. It's not their best, but is quickly rising in my opinions. Every track has new bits to pick up on each time you listen and each track is almost entirely different from the next (excluding You Can Do Better Than Me/Grapevine Fires, which merge together so perfectly that I'm pretty sure they were recorded together). The thundering Bixby Canyon Bridge contrast with the epic I Will Possess Your Heart, which contrasts again with the delightfully poppy No Sunlight. What Death Cab For Cutie have created is something magical, beautiful and tragic all at the same time, not their best work, but if Narrow Stairs is the one DCFC album that is remembered in 20 years time, I won't be surprised.