Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Eulogy Recordings
Eulogy Recordings
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 




Reviews

Street Dogs - State of Grace
Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile

My friend Steve always tells me about new bands for me to check out. He told me about the Dismemberment Plan and Wilco and a lot more of my now-favorite bands. One day he told me about Death Cab For Cutie, so i downloaded a few of their songs. I HATED them. Having heard a few mp3s and obtaining a burned copy of "we have the facts and we're voting yes," i had attained enough information to decided that i really hated this band.

But then "The Photo Album" was released, and something drew me towards it. I had heard one song from it and noticed that they had changed their sound a bit. Based on that, i purchased the CD. From the first note of "Steadier Footing" i knew that i was in love. The minute-and-a-half song deals with love and hopelessness, one of the most generic song topics in underground music these days. However, Death Cab has this amazing ability to take a fresh approach to these overdone "emo" themes, which makes them so interesting to listen to. You hang on to EVERY word that vocalist Ben Gibbard sings, and the sheer honesty in his voice makes every word important.

Highlights of the cd includes the mellow "Movie Script Ending," the balls-out rocker "Why You'd Want To Live Here", an ode to Los Angeles (i bet you don't think "balls-out rocker" when you think of death cab, do you?), and 2 lyrically perfect songs "I was a Kaleidoscope" and "Styrofoam Plates", which deals with Gibbard's "bastard" father.

But the true gem of this album is track 3, "We Laugh Indoors." In this song, the beautiful melody floats over the sonic landscape of guitar work by Gibbard and Chris Walla. The song builds through the verses and bridge into one of the most intense "rock out" sections ever recorded in a song. To see this song performed live is truly an experience.

In every aspect, this cd is amazing. From Ben Gibbard's lyrics and singing to Michael Shorr's tasteful drum work, this is a superb recording that no "indie rock" collection should be without.

"I was a kaleidoscope: the snow on my lenses distorting the image of what was only one of you, and i didn't know which one to address as all your lips moved."



People who liked this also liked:
The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge TherapyAlkaline Trio - GoddamnitSaves the Day - Through Being CoolDeath Cab For Cutie - TransatlanticismDeath Cab For Cutie - PlansThe Lawrence Arms - The Greatest Story Ever ToldHot Water Music - Fuel For The Hate GameThe Decemberists - PicaresqueTed Leo and the Pharmacists - The Tyranny Of Distance



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by lobsterboy on 2004-09-14 08:01:01
    My Score:

    Very good album, especially Coney Island, Styrofoam Plates, We Laugh Indoors and Debate Exposes Doubt are great songs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 23, 2003 at 10:35 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Dont think that was what he was saying.

    now you stop sniffing glue.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 5, 2002 at 9:45 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    yo, kid a few posts down. if you're trying to say that something corporate's a good band, and that death cab for cutie is not, you should stop huffing glue.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 2, 2002 at 2:35 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Cuz not everyone can afford a car cd-player.

    Posted by evildeadalive on 2002-07-01 15:38:40
    My Score:

    Why make a mix tape when you can make a mix cd?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 30, 2002 at 8:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    mix tapes are for dorks

    Posted by layawayplan on 2002-06-29 22:28:38
    My Score:

    Something About Airplanes is also top notch. "Bend to squares" is one of my favourite songs. I put it on a mix tape between a song by Breach and a song by Choke. go figure.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 8:09 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Hey, this is Ryan, the reviewer here. I just wanted to say to clarify that after buying this album and listening to it, i have a new found respect for all of death cab's earlier work. in fact, now i like "we have the facts and we're voting yes" even more than photo album.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 29, 2002 at 4:15 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    not too long ago i wrote about a girl making me a mix tape with a something corporate song on it. i then spoke of how i never listen to that mix tape, mainly due to the fact that something corporate was on there. death cab for cutie is also on that mix tape. i still never listen to it.

    Posted by never_forever on 2002-06-29 14:05:24
    My Score:

    This is a great CD, and one of my favourites this year. I reccomend all of you to pick it up if you can tolerate some "emo" - or whatever the hell you might call it.

    I'm sorry to hear that you did not like "We Have the Facts", and I don't think that much had changed from album to album, but I guess I could be wrong. They are both SOLID albums, and should not go unnoticed in any CD collection.

    ALSO, if anyone does happen to like this CD, check out the Stability EP as well as the Forbidden Love EP... these guys have really evolved and their sound is really dynamic and beautiful.

    -ryan logan

    © 1999-2006 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • FAQ • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon