Narrow Stairs Going... Downward.

As many of you know, I really enjoy every Death Cab for Cutie record. And after the third listening of their new album, "Narrow Stairs" I have mixed feelings. I know they couldn't stay the way of "The Photo Album" or "Transatlanticism" But their new album is, needless to say, different. Its purposefully under produced, with none of the great Death Cab feeling we've all come to know and love. Maybe I'm just not ready for this new sound from them. I feel like if I wanted to hear this kind of music I can pick up any other record I own. This doesn't feel like a progression but a regression.

Yes they took a risk; they risked getting lost in the pop music world, and they succeeded.

The beginning of the record starts out like one would expect a Death Cab record to start. I familiar melody and the same arrangement of guitar. It sounded like they were going to remain the same. My heart leaped and I got excited about the new record. This was the right mix of new sound and old nostalgia.

But then the lyrics say, "I've still got miles to go. And I want to know my fate if I keep up this way." Which is a great jumping off point. Maybe they got tired of sounding the same way, and they didn't want to stay the same way.

The record then takes the "leap" that the band had been talking about. I can't put my finger on it, but this wont be a cherished Death Cab album.

The second song, "I will Posses Your Heart." is their 8 minute single, which I enjoy. It reminds me of Radiohead with a thumping base line and long introduction with some fantastic drumming.
Great lyrics in this song too. "I wish you could see the potential of you and me. It's like a book elegantly bound but in a language you can't read."

The third song, "No Sunlight", has a mix of 1950's Beatles upbeat drumming and "twist music" but nothing else of value to it.

Song four could have the caption, "With Special Guest, 1990's Matchbox 20" Sure it's got a major label sound. 10 years ago.

The fifth song could have been much better than it turned out to be. It's okay. But not great. And Again could have been better. I want to like this song, as it is more reminiscent of older Death Cab, but it doesn't quite accomplish what it wants to do. Whatever that is. It sounds like Rilo Kiley which would be fine if this was a Rilo Kiley record.

I like the Sixth song, "You can do Better than Me." But again it doesn't sound as if they put any effort in it at all. It's different, sure but I could have written this song, which isn't saying much.

Finally. The Death Cab Progression I was hoping for happens in the Seventh song. "Grapevine Fires" is a great song. Sounds like Death Cab with matching lyrics. "The Fireman worked in double shifts, With prayers for rain on their lips." It does sound different than their other record's songs, but it still sounds good. Sounds like a major label song but it stays true to what we all love. Thank goodness for this song.

Then just as soon as we think Death Cab has done well the next song is the Worst song on the record. No matter what, I will listen to this song and cringe. "Your New Twin Sized Bed" is without a doubt, the worst Death Cab song ever written. I can't even begin to tell you how awful this song makes me feel. A band that I once listened to with the utmost respect and awe for their songwriting talent, comes out with a Jack Johnson song. This song literally makes me sick to my stomach. I hope they never, ever, ever come out with a song like this again. This song is awful.

The next song, "Long Division" sounds like "Broken Social Scene" it isn't bad. Sounds like some of the songs from their first record. But again its not quite a progression.

After listening to the next song, "Pity and Fear" a few times, I think it's alright. It sounds like their other songs. More like "Crooked Teeth" and less like "Title and Registration" I'm in the middle about this song. Maybe after a few listens I'll like it. But for now it remains unimpressive.

The last song took remnants of "All-Time Quarterback." Sounds like his old song, "Send Packing" I would recommend listening to the two songs back to back. Same swinging melody. Nice song, but a bad choice to end the record.

I tried to give this album a chance. I listened to it three times before writing the review. Which I felt was more for me than anyone else. I know I'll listen to this record dozens more times. Possibly growing to love it for the New Death Cab for Cutie. But for now, this record will be my least favorite by far.

"and it saddens me to say what we both knew was true. The ice was getting thinner under me and you"

Two Boats

I feel I must mention something that has been troubling me since last night. Well I won't go into detail but on my 22nd birthday I did some pretty unbuddhist things. Which got me thinking about Buddhism and what it means to me. I know that no matter what I do I will always follow the Dharma. But all this things that cultivate negative karma, and in turn cultivate negative thoughts and actions I know that I shouldn't do these things, but do anyway, but why? I really want to bring about spiritual change within myself and I can only do that through meditation and being focused spiritually. But it's hard when the temptations of the world are so close and so easy to fall back on. This is troubling to me. I suppose the answer is that I am on two boats and I feel that they are slipping away from me and eventually I must choose one. It's only hard at 22. So I will continue prostrations.

For What It's Worth

I started this blog with one clear thought: Who the hell reads blogs anyway? The purpose of this blog is to collect my thoughts and discussions I've had with others so that they can be easily viewed on the internet. And I make no promises (particularly to myself) about the longevity or continuance of this blog. I only start because:

I am outraged by the response of militant Muslims to the comic that was posted by a Denmark newspaper. Depicting Muhammad in a series of illustrations.

The Purpose (with a capitol P) of the illustrations is to promote free speech and to show that no political or religious group should be able to silence this free speech.

While I am not ignorant of the blasphemy that these cartoons obviously invoke, I am also not ignorant of their right to exist. I am not saying that I agree with these illustrations message. I am saying that I agree that they have a right to be seen, just as the KKK's website has a right to be seen.

If someone depicted the Buddha molesting a child, in a published newspaper, I would be appalled. I would choose to write the newspaper and share my opinion with the editor and that of the illustrator, but I would not threaten to kill them, as that would tarnish why I cared about the Buddha's image at all.

Which brings me to my final point. The people who are killing in the name of this so-called cause do not respect the teachings in which they use to evoke this divine right. It's ridiculous.

Although I can plainly see why this is an not acceptable depiction of the Profit Muhammad. I think that the extremists that kill for it's sake are hurting the cause that they fight for.