Thursday, July 28, 2011

Notes on codes and keys by death cab for cutie

I wanted to do this review a long time ago but I can't handle doing reviews the day stuff comes out you know I like being late on reviews and plus isn't it like too mainstream to do reviews early? (Hipster joke). Death cab for cutie are known for their indie style and they were one of the first major indie bands and they are so indie that they were called emo before the term indie replaced emo. Anyway this album is great and I'm not a diehard DCFC fan I actually got into DCFC when narrow stairs was released so in a way I'm not Hipster and shit sayin "I heard this band before they went mainstream!" Anyway lets discuss the songs.
1. Home is a fire: this track has a pulsating feel to it with pulsating guitars, filtered vocals at times,constant "top hat" drum tapping. There's melodious vocals built around the music, slight tinge of electronic music. Tiny blips here and there of strange sounds. The lyrics stab into your heart, yup its death cab for cutie. I love that you can hear the tiny details perfectly and nothing is droned out to a huge extent like in grunge or metal.
2. Codes and keys: Drums immediately start, piano just about a second later then the strings, and at last vocals come in. The guitar joins in and its almost as if it was always playing. The touch of stringed instruments in this song got me admiring DCFC for putting all of it together. I gotta say they put alot of work into this album and this song.
3. Some boys: weird echoing intro. Wtf is up with the panting? Strange filtered vocals. I guess the reference to "some boys" hes criticizing men, unfaithful men or clueless men. I wonder why most songs they make are directed to men and I wonder why most of the songs they make are "girly" as in the audience is usually women. Well actually I'm not gonna wonder since this song kinda gives me the response.
4. Doors unlocked and opened: one of my favorite songs. It basically screaming "death cab for cutie!!!!" I like because its got a constant beat that changes as the song progresses. The guitars are changing alot and they don't change in a bad way they change and they are awesome not all "blahhh bluuuh blhhh bh" the vocals change alot weird little wavy filters. Its got a normal feel to it with just enough weirdness to make it feel right at home.
5. You are a tourist: slow start. I like the looping vocals in the beginning. I like the awesome guitar riff in the start. This is a great song its no reason why its the first single, but in my opinion its not the best song on this album. Its weird and structured but it ain't weird enough for me.
6. Unobstructed views: another slow start synth piano mix in the beginning. Piano slowly growing louder, touch of what I believe is a triangle. Halfway through the song and he finally starts singing, slowly and very low key. I love the slowness it seems perfect for the progression in this song.
7. Monday morning: my favorite song on this album. The music is basically just a blend of awesome, wow, love, and girls. The song is about a girl who is unique, fun, vintage, and cool. She likes retro things and the perfect era for her is the mid 60's - late 70's. Id date a girl like that but I'm into more of 90's rock and modern shit too.. I just love the guitars, bass, synth, and vocals I describe it but I can't describe really good material. Just listen to the song and you'll get my feel to it.
8. Portable television: not much to say, I love the drums in the song, they make the song 10x better.
9. Underneath the sycamore: nice rhythm lyrics it has a good beat, nice chorus and good guitars and very good transitions.
10. St. Peters cathedral: its about a building at first then about a girl? It sounds sad at first then it gets all cool and upbeat. This band continues to amazing me with the transitions and amazing change in mood.
11. Stay young, go dancing: acoustic guitars, strings, piano. Pretty catchy gets bigger as it progresses. It goes from small room to huge venue after a while and then interchanges throughout the song.

The album is more than I thought it would be since when I heard it was coming out I was like "meh, its death cab for cutie" and when I heard it I was like that too but after a couple of listens I got into it and I got a good feel for it. It sounds sad at times but it kinda is like when your friends give you good advice its an album that brings your spirits up. The album as a whole is good its all very similar to each other and its mixed in together very nicely though I repeat songs 4-7 all the time and its a must have in a death cab for cutie collection cus after listening to the album you feel great and full.


posted from Bloggeroid

2 comments:

  1. doors unlocked & open is my favourite, too :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah its cool aint it? I got a remix brewing for the song you know. Im probably gonna post a whole page for the remixes im making.

    ReplyDelete

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