Transatlanticism: Death Cab for Cutie: Amazon.co.uk: Music

First of all you've got to get over the name. It's a terrible, terrible name. Every time I tell a friend that they have to buy the new album by Death Cab for Cutie their eyes glaze over and no amount of missionary-zeal at the glorious music of this album can ever win them back. But it's important to keep trying, because when this album gets you, it's for the long term.
The first couple of times through, Transatlanticism pretends to be a pretty good indie rock album. The opener "The New Year" pushes all the right buttons and proper pop songs like Expo '86 and The Sound of Settling have you humming along. A few piano ballads lead the way to a full-on rocker in We Look Like Giants and the Elliot-Smith-a-like A Lack of Color closes the album on a strangely low key note. But then you listen again, and again, and you realise that there's much more to it than that.
I could go on about the beautiful melodies, the keen sense of unease, and wonderful lyrics of heartbreak, regret and warm melancholy all day frankly, but I'll keep this short and just say something about the title track.
Epic in scope, full of intelligence and central to the album's theme of love ended by distance it's a perfectly realised gem. Beginning from a simple piano refrain, Ben Gibbard starts singing oddly about how the Atlantic was created and how, though "most people were overjoyed," he "thought it less like a lake and more like a moat." More images of insurmountable distance are added before he lays his cards on the table "I need you so much closer" he repeats again and again. And then, after the music has built up towards it's peak, he lets go of all his studied articularcy and simply sings "So come on, come on" as if there's nothing more he can do. I'm telling you, it's a heartbreaker.
Simply put, every song has it's own moment of genius, every song has been lovingly constructed, every song will have you singing along, and then you'll think about the words you're singing and if you're anything like me you'll think "blimey, this is genius."

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where have you been all my life, 8 Jan 2006

By	D. Agha-Jaffar "bustopher_jones" (Surrey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I hadnt really heard of Death Cab For Cutie ubtil a couple of months ago and thought they were good but was not sure if they were good enough for me to buy an album of theirs.

Then a couple of days ago i borught this ablum and have not stopped listening to it since then. It is one of those albums that is so mellow and fun to listen to. My favourite song if i had to pick one would be title and registration but be fair all of the songs are brillant. I think i might have to buy more albums of theirs at some point.

I would totally recomend if like people like snow patrol and elliott smith.

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars death cab anymore?........., 31 Dec 2003

By	"malcolmgolin" - See all my reviews

LO-FI indie rock is the path that dcfc originally walked down. they made some great albums, 'We have the facts and we're voting yes' being my favourite, but the 'Photo Album' also contained a number of truely inspiring tracks. 'A Movie Script Ending', '405' and 'Company Calls' being some of my favourites. Then they made Transatlanticism.

Do not get me wrong, this is a fantastic album; but i don't think it is what made me love them. Rock is a much greater part of their sound now, and it tends to be anthemic rock, rather than the highly intricate and delightful rock (or at least indie) that we've seen before in songs like 'company calls'.

DCFC do still have a great ear for melody, and it comes in pints on this album. I am particularly fond of track 2 'Lightness' that still has the hooks that old DCFC had yet is much darker in atmosphere that anything i have heard from them before. 'Passenger Seat', 'Expo 86' and 'Tiny Vessels' are also very much worth investigating. In fact it is difficult to find a single dud track on the album. It is in fact pretty perfect - except the song 'Title and registration' that comes immediately after 'Lightness' is such a change in atmosphere and tempo that it feels a tad misplaced but this is MAJOR QUIBBLING on my part.

Ben Gibbard still displays his nack for writing interesting and engaging lyrics. In fact I've just heard the song 'The Dream of Evan and Chan' which is a collaboration between Dntel and Ben Gibbard which beautifully demonstrates the delicate and wonderfully interesting lyrics that he is capable of writing.

I cannot recommend this album enough to a Death Cab noobie, but if you want a more challenging and rewarding listen, buy 'We Have The Facts....." or 'The Photo Album' instead.

================================================================

5 out of 5 - rocked up, but still beautiful.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Rewarding Album
I'm a big fan of Death Cab and i think this is perhaps my favourite album because it is one of those that get better the more you listen to it. Read more

Published on 24 Jun 2007 by M. W. Baldwin

5.0 out of 5 stars Initially Beguiling, Ultimately Fulfilling
Approaching an album like 'Transatlanticism' subjectively is difficult. Given the iconically cult nature, not only of the album, but also of the band themselves, it is impossible... Read more

Published on 30 Mar 2007 by Mr. P. A. Brown

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite ever albums!
There are not many CDs you can buy that have so many good songs on it, they'll have a one or two that you recognise and like and the rest of it is really... Read more

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4.0 out of 5 stars Transatlanticism
I can't give five stars as there are some weaker moments in this album, but overall it is a great and varied collection of songs. Read more

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The only standout track from this album is, or would have to be 'A lack of colour', a melodious, melancholy tune to please the auditory senses. Read more

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5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
I think this is Death Cabs best album, all the songs are brilliant, well produced but still quite a raw feel (like in the photo album). Read more

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5.0 out of 5 stars A most comprehensive review
This has got to be my favourite album of it's genre, if not my favourite album ever. I could write reams about it, but instead I shall sum each track up, keeping it as short yet... Read more

Published on 13 Aug 2005 by B. H. Kelly

3.0 out of 5 stars Lost in translation
With a title like 'Transatlanticism', I thought this was going to be an ideal cross over for a Brit becoming interested in this kind of music. Read more

Published on 5 Jul 2005 by J. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As It Gets
I couldn't wait for the new album from Death Cab For Cutie and, true to form, it's another beautiful and intelligent alternative rock record. Read more

Published on 28 Oct 2003 by Katie Treble

4.0 out of 5 stars Transatlanticism - a UK writer hooked on US indie
Probably not the best time in the world to be an American indie band really, what with it being all Darkness and Jets round these parts. Read more

Published on 23 Oct 2003 by G Dobson

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