Death Cab for Cutie - Directions DVD

In what is most probably a stroke of genius, Death Cab for Cutie have teamed up with 11 directors in an effort to have a video created for each song on their album Plans. The idea that each song's video will be a vision completely unique to each director has the propensity to either be a great success or an enormous failure. I think the gamble worked out completely in Death Cab's favor as it presents itself as a beautiful companion piece to Plans. Cat Solen's video for "Soul Meets Body" includes the original directions that she sent out to twelve friends along with Super-8 cameras. She prompted them to shoot whatever they wanted with very few guidelines all on the same day, Thanksgiving of 2005. The result is a completely random game of "Exquisite Corpse" played with film and cuts rather than words and could not have been planned any better. Lightborne's video for "Summer Skin" features children engaged in the rat race. The initial thought upon seeing a playground in Autumn overrun by desks and filing cabinets is the overwhelming feeling that soon the children will rebel and utilize the playground for its intended purpose. A few fleeting moments into the video, a young man is given his pink slip inspiring him to pack his things with a heavy-hearted sigh. A young boy and girl converse at a water cooler, their individual heart mugs touching to become a shared heart between them. The mugs fall to the ground and break, meanwhile a boy's discovery of a starfish in his briefcase is the impetus required for the children to once again become children. Lance Bangs' video for b-side "Talking Like Turnstiles" is an extra and is filmed entirely from the audience. Lance requests the song by screaming the title over and over when the band comes out to perform an encore. He then rushes through the audience pushing girls out of his way while repeating "That's my song, watch out, watch out!" He fights his way onto the stage and ends up being kicked out so he uses the opportunity to steal a bottle of water from Death Cab's dressing room. Although obviously staged, it's a great idea for a video and is completely original. If you're a fan of Death Cab for Cutie and enjoyed the album Plans you will be pleasantly pleased with the DVD. It's a novel idea and the ideal companion to the album. The DVD also includes a band interview and complete director statements and profiles. [www.deathcabforcutie.com]