Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

I have to admit I was one of the people that never listened to Death Cab For Cutie prior to The Postal Service. Yes, I am guilty and I lose all my indie credibility. Maybe it was the band's name that turned me off for so long, I have no clue. What I do know is that as soon as I heard Ben Gibbard's voice, I turned obsessive and sought out everything his talent garnered. Enter Death Cab For Cutie. I have to say that Mr. Gibbard and Co. had quite a daunting task putting out Transatlanticism while The Postal Service was still indie rock's reigning champion on the radio. DCFC could've come out with a record that could've been what you've heard all along and bored you. They could've compromised their sound and put out Death Cab Does The Postal Service (nice imagery, right?). Instead, I'm listening to one of the most mature, beautiful, true-to-the-band records that still feels like the sound is expanding, even if only slightly. "The New Year", the first track, turned me off immensely on first listen. It wasn't until I got to "Expo '86" that I really settled into this one. Then the infectious "The Sound Of Settling" hits me, and holy cow, did it hit me. It's the perfect slice of two minute pop rock pie. Then I get the title track to Transatlanticism, one of the longest, most desperate love songs (yes, I did say "love song"). It's an eight minute track, but it is so majestic and beautiful that I can never bear to skip it, waiting to sing "I need you so much closer" every time. And while "Lack Of Color" is a sweet acoustic closer, it's "We Looked Like Giants", a song about discovering the opposite sex in the high-school-make-out way, that really rounds out the CD. Ben Gibbard manages to keep Postal Service and Death Cab separate entities. And with his bandmates, they manage to release an album that could actually be the gem of their impressive catalog. I find it a shame I never gave this band more of a chance earlier, just for the fact that I could've grown listening to them as they matured with their sound. It's atleast comforting to know this is an absolutely excellent record that I'm glad I didn't miss. [www.barsuk.com]