Keys and Codes (Remixes)

Album Review

When you think of Death Cab for Cutie, the things that come to mind are likely sensitive, thoughtful songs and Ben Gibbard's gentle voice. Despite Gibbard's foray into electronic music with Postal Service, the last thing you’d expect is to hear a DCC song remixed into a dancefloor-filling glitterball confection with Gibbard sounding for all the world like a sleepy Neil Tennant. Thanks to Cut Copy's remix of "Doors Unlocked and Open," that unlikely thought is now reality. That mix and six others from the group’s 2011 album Codes and Keys are included on Keys and Codes Remix EP. The rest of the songs don’t quite live up to the jaw-dropping wonder of the Cut Copy mix, but they do a good job of injecting some bounce, groove, and punch to the songs. Rac Maury adds some nasty bass and a pounding glam beat to “Some Boys,” the 2 Bears give “You Are a Tourist” a dorky video game soundtrack overhaul, and Yeasayer turn ”Codes and Keys” into a (pretty good) Yeasayer song. The only track that doesn’t work is the clichéd-sounding house mix of “Unobstructed Views” done by Unicorn Kid. Apart from that mix, the rest of EP is a lot of fun and shows a totally different and unexpected side of the band.