Stuff I'm Digging - Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie is by no means a new band, nor is their latest and seventh album, Codes and Keys, new.  But the mark of a good album, song, or artist is one that you can listen to over and over- well after its initial release.  An album's release is a good excuse to ooh, ahh, and gush over a particular band and whatever crop of new songs they are peddling at the moment, so I'm going to ooh, ahh and gush over a not-so-new band and their not-so-new album.

Codes and Keys is typical Death Cab...which is to say that the album doesn't sound like anything else out there...except perhaps previous Death Cab for Cutie albums.  Death Cab's sound can be hard to pinpoint, as can comparisons to their sound.  Indie rock.  Indie pop.  Alternative.  Even Emo.  In general, they have songs that are slow and melodic.  There are uptempo songs that make for a good running soundtrack (Little Bribes).  There are songs that are ethereal and otherworldly (Transatlanticism).  There are songs that are pop-py and high spirited.  And there are songs that are melancholic and full of wanting (Cath..).  This album has all of the above.

Here are some of my favorites from Codes and Keys, which was released in May of this year.  In other words- I'm still listening to it 5 months later.

Stay Young, Go Dancing



Monday Morning


St. Peter's Cathedral


This song is by far the most beautiful on the album, in terms of tickling your senses.  If there is an umami of emotion, this song captures it.
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