CD Review
Artist: Death Cab for Cutie
Album: Narrow Stairs
Label: Warner Music Canada
Release Date: May 13 2008 

Reviewed by: Tessa Perkins (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada) 

While still keeping with their sense of melancholy, Death Cab for Cutie has stayed true to the signature sound that made them so popular with Plans. This time around they have gone even further experimenting with their art, and molding their sound into something darker and more meaningful. This, their sixth studio album, which feels very comfortable, as though they have found themselves in a place where they can be bolder and try new things.

One might expect them to play it safe and try to ride on the success of Plans, but DCFC have proved that they are a band with staying power. After somewhat altering their sound, they are still able to impress both fans and the critics. The band has definitely evolved in a good way, and they seem to have reached a sort of musical climax in their careers.

On this album, even more than the last, the lyrics speak of things that often go unsaid but that everyone struggles with. There seems to be a theme of admitting your faults and downfalls while trying to overcome them rather than overlooking or ignoring your problems. Although the songs may talk about unhappy situations, there is the humility and realism of the lyrics that gives it a comfortable rather than desperate feeling. The feeling of comfort is also a result of the location of their recording: band member Jason McGerr's home studio. They were able to relax completely and make music without feeling like they needed to impress anyone but themselves; the album as a result is more creative and real.  

With their most aggressive and experimental album yet, will Death Cab for Cutie be able to keep producing albums that are even better than their last? I suppose we will have to wait to find out, but in the meantime we can savour the sweet sounds of these long aural experiments that push their art to new heights.  

1. "Bixby Canyon Bridge" (Gibbard) - 5:15
2. "No Sunlight" (Gibbard, Walla) - 2:40
3. "Cath..." (Gibbard) - 3:50
4. "Talking Bird" (Gibbard) - 3:23
5. "You Can Do Better Than Me" (Gibbard) - 1:59
6. "Grapevine Fires" (Gibbard, Harmer, McGerr) - 4:09
7. "Your New Twin Sized Bed" (Gibbard, Harmer) - 3:06
8. "Long Division" (Gibbard, Harmer, Walla) - 3:50
9. "Pity and Fear" (Gibbard) - 4:21
10. "The Ice Is Getting Thinner" (Gibbard, Walla) - 3:45