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Transatlanticism

Death Cab for Cutie

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iTunes Review

While Ben Gibbard receives most of the attention as the writer and singer of these earnest songs of heartbreak and displacement, the Seattle band's guitarist and producer Chris Walla deserves to be acknowledged for giving Death Cab for Cutie the expansive, widescreen sound that separates them from the ever-crowded emo ranks. Transatlanticism, the band's fourth studio album, is a major step for the group. Gibbard's songwriting is as hook-filled and tear-jerking as ever. He sounds like Elliot Smith funneled through the Zombies' Colin Blunstone and Pernice Brothers' Joe Pernice. But it's the extra layer of guitar and keyboard washes of "The New Year," "Tiny Vessels," and "The Sound of Settling" that kick-start these songs into permanent resonance. The added pillow of sound creates dream-like prospects for the group,but they wisely choose tokeep their mojo workin', operating from a position of both strength and repose. Rarely is rainy-day music this potent and loud.

Customer Reviews

Quite Simply My Favorite Album EVER

I was no Death Cab fan for a long, long, time. I heard Soul Meets Body on the radio, but i was not too impressed. One day I decided to buy "Plans". It was a pretty good album, but once again, not too impressed. But i heard of an earlier album, Transatlanticism. I bought it a month ago, and can not stop listening. It is good at first listen, great at second listen, and after that, i became obsessed. I listen to the whole thing through each night before i go to sleep. It starts off with the up tempo song "The New Year". From there it goes to the strangest song on the album, Lightness. Title and Registration, Expo '86, and The Sound of Settling are all great songs, with The Sound of Settling being the high point of the album in regards to tempo and sound. It's about as loud as it gets. Then comes my personal favorite, Tiny Vessels. A sweet song that i could listen to over and over, it is beautiful lyrically and musically. It fades into Transatlanticism, for which the album is titled after. The soft vocals float over the instramentals behind, including guitar and piano. It goes on for nearly 8 minutes, yet it never gets boring. Passanger Seat is next, another personal favorite. Death of an Interior Decorator is next, which brings the vibe of the album back up after the Tiny Vessels, Transatlanticism, and Passenger Seat "soft" combo. We Looked Like Giants is a strange love song of sorts, telling the story of a long distance love. The album is finished off with A Lack of Color, an uplifting, and beautiful song, which is a fit end to an amazing album. If you are a Death Cab for Cutie fan, and you don't own this, then buy it! It is far better than any of their other stuff, including Plans. And if your not a fan, then by buying this album, you will be soon. Give it a few listens, you'll grow to love it. Hope i was informative! Five Stars for Transatlanticism!

One for Rainy Days, Introspective Moods, and Broken Hearts.

Words cannot describe the majesty, splendor, and PERFECTION that is Death Cab for Cutie's lush and beautiful eighth record release, "Transatlanticism". While a major theme of the album seems to be distances and travel, I would also say it is a work centered around on perfect balance. The lyrics are sophisiticated and elegant, yet unassuming and humble. Ben Gibbard offers, once again, an honest and wistful persepctive on simple, uncomplicated events such as New Years' Eve, finding his long lost lover's pictures in the glove compartment, and a not-so-innocent one night stand that somehow seem larger than life itself, revealing magical layers of complexity and raw emotion under the guise of a humble voice sweetly crooning elementary words and candid hook lines. ("The glove compartment / Is inaccurately named / and everybody knows it / so I'm proposing / a swift orderly change" may only sound like a grade-school attempt at poetry, but really strike a nerve somehow, when coupled with the electronic beat and the grey, dismal mood.) These lyrics convey the eloquent, introspective, and "hopeful hopelessness" trademark sound of Death Cab for Cutie. Any more balances? "Transatlanticism" is depressing enough to tug at the heartstrings, but is believable because it lacks the trite, overly emotional theatrics. It is sad, yet there is a thread of buoyant optimism. It is "indie-rock" enough, satisfying fans of Death Cab's younger more "naked" albums, yet with enough "pop" that makes it easy to stomach and appealing to new listeners. And most of all, "Transatlanticism" is an astounding piece of work, from beginning to end, but is never quite satisfying enough, making it an album that warrants listening to again and again and again. Every song is truly epic, and my one complaint is that they end too soon. The electrifiying, soaring guitar on the opening of "The New Year" still gives me shivers, the awesome crescendo of "Transatlanticism" and the killer drums and guitars of "We Looked Like Giants" makes me feel as though I'm flying; and the soft acoustic melody of "A Lack of Color" will never cease to touch my soul and make me weak at the knees. With every track giving me such an emotional charge, it still never quite satiates my tremendous appetite and leaves me begging for more. And that, is what real music is meant to do.

One of the Best Albums Ever Written!

This album was a step forward in history when it was made. Every song will touch you in one way or another. There are fun songs, sad songs, and songs just to please you. And what's better? "For a limited time" it's only 8 bucks!

Biography

Formed: 1997 in Bellingham, WA

Genre: Alternative

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

Death Cab for Cutie's rise from small-time solo project to Grammy-nominated rock band is one of indie rock's greatest success stories. Launched in the bayside college town of Bellingham, Washington, the group was originally a side project for singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard, an engineering student at Western Washington University who split his time between school and music. Taking a break from his local power pop band, Pinwheel, Gibbard began recording an album's worth of solo material during the summer...
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