Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 




Reviews

Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)
Register to Vote: Rock the Vote, powered by Credo Mobile

Death Cab For Cutie

Drive Well, Sleep Carefully DVD
2005
Plexifilm

Death Cab For Cutie - Drive Well, Sleep Carefully DVD (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Matt Whelihan
See others by this writer


[staff]



Only registered users
can post comments


Print this Review Send this Review to a Friend
Plexifilm (Logo)

Published on August 19th 2005

Director Justin Mitchell (Ted Leo's Dirty Old Town) returns with a well-done documentary / live performance DVD that covers Death Cab For Cutie’s Spring 2004 tour. The whole thing was shot on 16mm film giving Drive Well, Sleep Carefully a beautiful and professional look to it. Mitchell’s editing is also excellent as interview clips that cover everything from why Ben Gibbard writes predominantly somber songs to the psychology behind touring, the band’s explosion into mainstream culture via "The OC," and the move to a major label carefully interwoven with live performances from across the country.

Death Cab has always been known for their lively sets and Mitchell captures that here. Two camera angles at each show allow for a full view of all the dancing and high-energy antics of the band. Fans of Death Cab’s older material may be a bit disappointed as “Company Calls,” “Prove My Hypotheses,” and “Bend To Squares” are the only pre-Photo Album tracks offered on the DVD, but otherwise the song selections are a good mix of the band’s last two albums.

Mitchell not only gives an idea of the band’s performance style, but also of their off-stage personas. Drummer Jason McGerr is reserved during his interview in a drum school where he most likely teaches, while Chris Walla beams like a proud father as he shows off his modest looking studio, and Gibbard comes off like an indie nerd who still can’t believe his band is a success. In the end, all the guys in Death Cab exhibit that they are not rock star wannabees, but simply down to earth people who love playing music.

If the feature section of the DVD suffers from anything it is that it flows like a Death Cab album. There are exciting, attention grabbing moments, and then there are mellow, slow moving sections. If you are ready for some introspection and reflection on the part of the band you will be fine, but if you are looking for a quick blast through a tour that will keep your ADD at bay you may have some problems. Think about it this way: If you put Transatlanticism on while doing 80 down an empty stretch of highway, you are probably going to want to skip through the morose triple threat of “Tiny Vessels,” “Transatlanticism,” and “Passenger Seat,” but if you are lying back on your bed with headphones on you will allow the whole album to play out like the soundtrack to your daydreams.

The extras don’t offer much to get excited about. The three-song acoustic set from San Francisco is entertaining, but the other bonus material is far from it. The extra interviews are short and not very insightful, the “Lightness” demo montage comes off like a low budget music video, the rehearsal of “Stability” is more interesting sonically than visually, and Ben Gibbard walking around on the street as “behind the scenes” footage is not very electrifying.

This is a great DVD that succeeds because of its high level of quality and attention to detail. These are not clips that are simply thrown together, but instead scenes that form a cohesive whole. The film may open by stating that, “This is simply the story of a band on the road,” but there is nothing simple about the captivating end results.



People who liked this also liked:
Cheap Girls - Find Me a Drink HomeTaking Back Sunday - Louder NowTaking Back Sunday - Tell All Your FriendsTaking Back Sunday - Where You Want To BeBlink 182 - Take Off Your Pants and JacketThe Used - The UsedThe Used - In Love And DeathGreen Day - Bullet in a Bible [CD/DVD]Blink 182 - Blink 182Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree



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 Anonymous on Tuesday, August 23, 2005 at 2:28 AM (EDT)

    -There's a recurring theme of you making really mysogynist remarks...

    Vagina, Bitch, Whore, Slut, Cunt, Twat, Hoe, Trick, Period, Tampons, Maxi Pads, Douche, Summers Eve, KY Warming Liquid, Barefoot, Kitchen, Preggers, Vulva, Gynecologist, Violent Anal Sex, Tits, Nipples, Lactation, Arm Pit Stubble, Brazilian Wax, Roofies, WNBA, Panties, Cum Dumpster, Semen Recepticle, Drain, Splooge, Squirting, DVDA, Watersports, Your Sister.

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-08-22 04:04:21

    "There's a recurring theme of you making really mysogynist remarks..."

    what the fuck? are you talking to me??? are you serious? first of all, when do i make mysogynistic remarks? i was being as sarcastic as i possibly could be.

    sure, most girls annoy the shit out of me, but then again so do most dudes. i try to treat everyone equally, and with respect. except you, cause you're a fucking idiot.

    Jones is exactly right, i love 'pussy', but i got over slaying chicks just for the sake of it a while ago. i enjoy actually getting to know certain girls now. i know how not punk that is.

    the pleasures of pussy still apply, though. in fact i wish i had some pussy right here so i could stick something in it and make degrading remarks to it...

    and Dante.... amen..

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 21, 2005 at 4:30 PM (EDT)

    pure crap. death cab needs a death cab so they can get buried and everyone can not go to the funeral and little girls will cry because it's sad when no one attends a funeral, and there is only 1 car in the line of cars with their 4 way blinkers on.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-08-21 09:14:31

    you bring it on yourself, man, i gotta tell ya

    Posted by CrookedSuperhero on 2005-08-21 05:33:05

    Haha, gots my own hate crew.

    Pity it's made up of the two most hated people on the site and Mr.hype.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 6:35 PM (EDT)

    Yeah, CrookedSuperhero is a "gamer" that spends every single one of his non-gaming moments on this website, posting shit in hopes of getting "interaction" with people. It's very pathetic. At least his taste in music is...okay.

    -Chinatown

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 6:21 PM (EDT)

    against me!

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-08-20 18:01:25

    Mmmmm....Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!P ussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy! Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy !Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!Pussy!...I'm gay.
    -Dante
    P.S. Score is for pussy that isn't. (Wow I can't believe it's not Pussy.
    P.P.S. My girlfriend can actually beat my ass...so I guess she's a feminist.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-20 11:34:18

    "In short, he just copies whatever everyone else is using against me and restates...."

    uh...BSD....i think you forgot something. you meant to type "against me?"

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-20 11:31:49
    My Score:

    "There's a recurring theme of you making really mysogynist remarks..."

    i think almostpunk was being sarcastic...he probably actually loves pussy and the pleasures that come along with pussy, like eating it and sticking things in it...so its not really misogynistic at all

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    - score is for pussy

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 11:07 AM (EDT)

    CD of the year

    -BSD

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-08-20 09:06:30

    shit, bsd and i agree

    i just can't understand how this kid's real life would be good at all

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 6:30 AM (EDT)

    "at least in real life, that is...because fuck, for some reason, people like you here"

    It's because he bandwagon attacks me... He even starts stupid message board fights with me over bands he doesn't really like. Hell, he's a fucking English kid who tried to tell me that American poor people have virtually no other option than to join the army.

    In short, he just copies whatever everyone else is using against me and restates it so he can get some "message board victories". Even when it makes no sense whatsoever.

    How empty is that? Maybe my opinion is never very popular, but I can't even fathom what reason some person would post on a message board other than stating what they really think... It's like he wants his online social life to pour over into reality.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 6:25 AM (EDT)

    There's a recurring theme of you making really mysogynist remarks...

    You're pretty disgusting.

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-08-20 04:35:39
    My Score:

    "This is the kinda shit that guys make mixes of to get pussy. How pathetic"

    yeah dude, pussy is so fuckin lame! who would wanna eat a nice wet innie vagina?? EWWWWW!

    score is for pussy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 3:58 AM (EDT)

    now way brah AWS > anything! yo! dood!

    and who the hell is Ryan Fabian?

    Posted by ZDP on 2005-08-20 02:22:31

    Ok, to set the record straight:

    AWK > AWS.

    To stay on topic: I'd like to see this, seeing as how I really enjoyed the Ted Leo DVD.

    Posted by RondoMondo on 2005-08-20 00:53:35

    Don't like this band. But different strokes for different folks

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 12:05 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile &friendID=3137240&Mytoken=20050819174526

    This guy lost at life.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-08-19 23:00:03

    crooked, you must be the most annoying person in the world in real life

    my goodness

    i tried my absolute hardest to not respond here and start shit up, but you gotta put the fucking brakes on

    do you seriously understand that you just aren't funny? come on man, you're that kid in a group of people who is just trying way too hard to be cool and fit in

    at least in real life, that is...because fuck, for some reason, people like you here

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 10:40 PM (EDT)

    so umm anyway, about a Wilhelm Scream...has anyone herad that new album of theirs?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 10:20 PM (EDT)

    (Insert smart-ass comment here )

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 10:13 PM (EDT)

    "i'd read the review, but i already know everything DCFC releases is terrible."

    Go back to the pathetic shit that most of this site covers then. Why click if you don't like them? Suck my dick.

    Posted by wehavecomeforyourchildren on 2005-08-19 21:18:01

    i'd read the review, but i already know everything DCFC releases is terrible.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 8:34 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This is the kinda shit that guys make mixes of to get pussy. How pathetic

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-08-19 18:57:58

    Not that I'm a Death Cab fan (or detractor) But:
    "Two camera angles at each show allow for a full view of all the dancing and high-energy antics of the band"
    Two camera angles? Two fucking camera angles?! And this is impressive?
    I saw Good Riddance a couple of weeks back and they had three cameras and the audience was had a mic (miced?). That shit must have been shot by fucking Spielberg. I understand if you like the DVD. But two cameras is nothing special if you've ever seen any sort of live DVD with actual money behind it (as I assume they had).
    Still AWS so jocks this band for their awesome melodic breakdowns. But not as much as The Undertaker.
    PEACE,
    -Dante

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 6:24 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Who *Are* The New Lows?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 6:24 PM (EDT)

    Who is The New Lows?

    Posted by Russe11 on 2005-08-19 18:14:58

    Someone tell death cab that math metal has been done before, and done better.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 4:47 PM (EDT)

    Lol we all have different tastes in music! krayyzzzzee

    bsd jr.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 3:55 PM (EDT)

    These guys blow....but I laughed all that sarcastic references between AWS and Death Cab.

    Posted by CrookedSuperhero on 2005-08-19 15:51:35

    Oh, and NOFX want their shitty artwork back

    -Not Bemused-

    Posted by CrookedSuperhero on 2005-08-19 15:49:27

    Bagging on AWS is not cool dude, not cool at all. Score is for Nuno, Trever, Keith, Robin and Michelle:-)

    -Not Bemused-

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 3:43 PM (EDT)

    You have it all wrong... Take New York's old school of Madball and crossover-era Agnostic Front, put it in a blender with Hellshock, Hellbastard, or Napalm Death, add a triple dose of Jawbreaker melody, as well as a bit of Robert Smith melancholy. You have Death Cab.

    -BSD

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-19 15:43:33

    face it, Death Cab is just better than AWS. And I'm saying this as a fan of AWS...take their last album, it's shitty when compared to transatlanticism or Mute cab for cute. I did like the first few songs off the last AWS record, but by the time I was listening to the 15th track or whatever it got pretty fucking boring.

    death cab is better than AWS. Face it, dick freckles.

    - jones the bones

    Posted by CrookedSuperhero on 2005-08-19 15:34:47

    When did AWS fail?????

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-19 15:24:52

    "Hey Death Cab. A Wilhelm Scream called, they want their sound back."

    just because death cab is heavily influenced by AWS does not mean they are stealing the sound.

    if anything it is an improvement. remember all those times Wilhelm tried to slow their songs down and go with a more sluggish metal sound, but ultimately failed? Imagine if AWS had succeeded at the genre crossover, and you'd have a good idea of how Death cab for Cutie sounds.

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:57 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    If you need to attract underage, fat girls - these guys are your ticket!!!

    Posted by CrookedSuperhero on 2005-08-19 14:54:46

    Hey Death Cab. A Wilhelm Scream called, they want their sound back.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:33 PM (EDT)

    BORECORE

    I never understood what made this band popular...oh yeah...dumb scenesters and now little girls...

    ps. these guys are uglier than hell

    pps. AWS would kick their ass

    ppps AWS is better than Strung Out!

    hahahahahahaha

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-19 14:14:12

    "psychology behind touring = $$$"

    some bands like to play songs and bone bitches

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by xmidipunkbastardx on 2005-08-19 14:09:30

    "psychology behind touring = $$$"

    yhea, see the CHILDREN OF FALL euro tour. i bet they made thousand of bucks.

    (ps: they didn't)

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 1:37 PM (EDT)

    psychology behind touring = $$$

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-08-19 12:28:39

    Sickboi has obviously never listened to Six Organs of Admittance... I really wish I hadn't bought that CD.

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-08-19 12:20:34

    Snorecore at its finest.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 10:14 AM (EDT)

    "Drive Well, Sleep Carefully." Ohhh, they took two common expressions and reversed the words. How edgy.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-08-19 08:35:57

    I use this DVD to get girls to come over.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 8:21 AM (EDT)

    "But seriously now. Strung Out VS. A Wilhelm Scream."

    In a Prince Of Darkness match. I would say Strung Out.

    Ramo

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-08-19 07:27:10

    lol

    Posted by CrookedSuperhero on 2005-08-19 05:36:32

    Strung Out and AWS both suck.

    Get over it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 4:11 AM (EDT)

    PLEASE SOMEONE REVIEW HELLFEST

    !!111!1!!!1111

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-08-19 03:39:27

    I'm so glad my joke actually panned out. Keep it up.

    Posted by Mixhail on 2005-08-19 03:30:29

    hahahah nice hijack.

    Shouldnt they be reviewing the new death cab cd or do we have to wait 2 weeks?

    Posted by SomeoneAnonymous on 2005-08-19 03:29:01

    This DVD is pretty good, I'd say its on par with the Against Me! DVD. I just got the Lucero DVD from Netflix, looking forward to watching that.

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-08-19 02:35:30

    This thread has careened so far off course.

    But I did some research, and apparently a jagbag is the male counterpart of the douchebag. I urbandictionaried that shit.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-19 02:33:35

    haha...dude totally said "jagbag"

    but anyway, a 9? what the fuck was underground scene thinking? AWS is not a 9

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:19 AM (EDT)

    I'd have to say that Strung Out isn't as good as DCFC I mean they are just so versitile and all you know?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:13 AM (EDT)

    I disagree I think that AWS is far supeior to Strung Out... I even would go as far to say that AWS will surpass Strung Out in the next few years, you just watch

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-08-19 02:13:49

    Did dude just call you 'jagbag.'

    Posted by Jesse on 2005-08-19 02:13:44

    I think you all are missing the point. Death Cab For Cutie is the greatest metallic punk melodic hardcore that there ever is. They've been around for over 45 years now, pre-dating even the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. They've been a driving force in integrating metal riffs into their already uptempo punk songs.

    Posted by Timis on 2005-08-19 02:06:06

    jagbag below me....wrong place to post that crap - this is for DCFC discussionsm and besides who really cares.

    strung out has done more for punk rock then aws will ever do. not to mnetion aws wished they could be as good as strung out.

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-08-19 02:02:10

    But seriously now. Strung Out VS. A Wilhelm Scream.