Death Cab For Cutie

Death Cab For Cutie: Drive Well, Sleep Carefully DVDDrive Well, Sleep Carefully DVD (2005)
Plexifilm

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: Matt_WhelihanMatt Whelihan
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on August 19th 2005Director 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 .

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.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (August 23, 2005)

-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.

AlmostPunkEnough (August 22, 2005)

"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..

Anonymous (August 21, 2005)

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.

theundergroundscene (August 21, 2005)

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

CrookedSuperhero (August 21, 2005)

Haha, gots my own hate crew.

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

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

against me!

Dante3000 (August 20, 2005)

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.

stevejonestherealbones (August 20, 2005)

"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

stevejonestherealbones (August 20, 2005)

"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

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

CD of the year

-BSD

theundergroundscene (August 20, 2005)

shit, bsd and i agree

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

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

"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

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

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

You're pretty disgusting.

AlmostPunkEnough (August 20, 2005)

"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.

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

now way brah AWS > anything! yo! dood!

and who the hell is Ryan Fabian?

ZDP (August 20, 2005)

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.

RondoMondo (August 20, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 20, 2005)

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

This guy lost at life.

theundergroundscene (August 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

(Insert smart-ass comment here )

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

"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.

wehavecomeforyourchildren (August 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

Dante3000 (August 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

Who *Are* The New Lows?

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

Who is The New Lows?

Russe11 (August 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

Lol we all have different tastes in music! krayyzzzzee

bsd jr.

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

CrookedSuperhero (August 19, 2005)

Oh, and NOFX want their shitty artwork back

-Not Bemused-

CrookedSuperhero (August 19, 2005)

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

-Not Bemused-

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

stevejonestherealbones (August 19, 2005)

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

CrookedSuperhero (August 19, 2005)

When did AWS fail?????

stevejonestherealbones (August 19, 2005)

"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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

CrookedSuperhero (August 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

stevejonestherealbones (August 19, 2005)

"psychology behind touring = $$$"

some bands like to play songs and bone bitches

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

xmidipunkbastardx (August 19, 2005)

"psychology behind touring = $$$"

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

(ps: they didn't)

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

psychology behind touring = $$$

Marlon (August 19, 2005)

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

sickboi (August 19, 2005)

Snorecore at its finest.

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

Marlon (August 19, 2005)

I use this DVD to get girls to come over.

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

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

Ramo

theundergroundscene (August 19, 2005)

lol

CrookedSuperhero (August 19, 2005)

Strung Out and AWS both suck.

Get over it.

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

PLEASE SOMEONE REVIEW HELLFEST

!!111!1!!!1111

ElVaquero (August 19, 2005)

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

Mixhail (August 19, 2005)

hahahah nice hijack.

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

SomeoneAnonymous (August 19, 2005)

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.

Anchors (August 19, 2005)

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.

stevejonestherealbones (August 19, 2005)

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

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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?

Anonymous (August 19, 2005)

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

Anchors (August 19, 2005)

Did dude just call you 'jagbag.'

Jesse (August 19, 2005)

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.

Timis (August 19, 2005)

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.

ElVaquero (August 19, 2005)

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