Album: Transatlanticism
Release Date: 07.10.2003
Label: Barsuk
Tracklist:
1. The New Year
2. Lightness
3. Title and Registration
4. Expo '86
5. The Sound of Settling
6. Tiny Vessels
7. Transatlanticism
8. Passenger Seat
9.Death of an Interior Decorator
10. We Looked Like Giants
11. A Lack of Color
It is november. The days are darker and feeling are moody almost every day. This time of the year I always take a few precise records from my shelf and listen to them in a repeat. Few of these kinds of records are Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago, William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow & The Crow and Death Cab For Cuties almost every record. But not Codes & Keys because it is almost like a love record. I wanted to choose Transatlanticism because it was released ten year ago and DCFC have released a tenth anniversary edition of the record!
Death Cab For Cutie has always been one of my favourite bands and Ben Gibbards and Chris Wallas co-operation is something many artists cannot fight with. Transatlanticism is also a good cornerstone with the band, because DCFC got a record deal with Atlantic when releasing this record and got a breakthrough and was recognized by reviewers and public.
The sounds on the album are beautifully crafted. The record has the slight rawness of the emotions that the band wants to give to the listeners, but in a delicate way that it makes the record even more worthy to listen. The painful singing of Ben Gibbard and echoing guitar playing of Chris Walla really brings out on this record. And the major point of using the piano as an instrument brings a new side to the band. This is one of the slowest records Death Cab has ever made, but because of the chillness of the songs it gives an relaxing time for the listener and makes your mind wonder of to the deepest corners of your mind.
The lyrics on the album are dark. The starting lines of the record when Ben Gibbard is singing " So this is the new year and I don't feel any different". You immediately understand where Mr. Gibbard wants you to go with him. The disappointing realization of loving a woman you do not have feelings for (Tiny Vessels), to the painful ending of wanting to make that one last call but realizing it is too late ( A Lack of Color), makes you feel the pain that Gibbard is feeling.
The melodies on the record are soothing and the masterful playing of Gibbard, Walla, Harmer and McGerr makes you understand that they are professional in what they are doing. You can hear the real connection with the players in songs like We Looked Like Giants and Death of an Interior Decorator.
Transatlanticism is one of the records that you must listen many times to find all its best sides. The first listens leave you a little, but the more you get to the meanings in the songs and melodies you start to understand the band more. The painful loop in Transatlanticism and the disappointing sound of Gibbard in the last verse, makes you want to listen to the record once again and dive in to the dark.
5/5
Niklas Aaltio
Spotify: Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deathcabforcutie?fref=ts
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