This week on my iPod

If you’ve had a conversation with me in the past month or so, I’ve probably raved about Death Cab for Cutie’s new album “Plans.” It took me a few listens to know how to listen to it but I’ve come to adore it. There’s a funky, funny, heartbreaking beauty about it. The closest I’ve come to articulating what makes it so magical is that it’s like a fabulous collection of inter-connected short stories. Each song is—musically and lyrically— like a small, interesting narrative. I’m not sure how this happens but each song stands alone but there is a remarkable cohesion between them. For example, listen to “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” “Your Heart is an Empty Room,” “Someday You Will Be Loved,” “Crooked Teeth” and “What Sarah Said.” Each of them reminds me of a deceptively simple short story—it’s easy enough to listen to them and move on. However, if you go back to them, they’re like onions with their numerous layers—some thick, others membrane thin. There are lovely lines I envy: “eyes like the summer, all beauty and truth” (“Someday You Will Be Loved”) and “You’re so cute when you’re slurring your speech, they’re closing the bar and they want us to leave” (“Crooked Teeth”).

It’s all so inspirational and enlivening… they’ve got song clips on their site so do check them out. http://deathcabforcutie.com/index_site.html

Their video project is so fascinating too. Art begets art. Read about it here: http://deathcabforcutie.com/directions/