by Adam Carroll

Can this be true? Did it really happen? Is this the end? Thankfully it is not. Our used-to-be, best kept secret of the independent record industry, the lyrically profound and ever-growing Death Cab For Cutie, released their fifth album, Plans, on Atlantic Records late August. They left the small but successful independent label and their home since 1997, Barsuk, located in Seattle. They signed on to Atlantic back in November of 2004, but made it official with their new release. They successfully left all us "original" fans in complete, worried suspense.

Fans and new-comers alike should take comfort, in that not much has changed. Lead guitarist Chris Walla remains the band's main producer and Benjamin Gibbard the coordinator of metaphors and similes in their lyrical masterpieces. The only difference, as of now, exists in their growing tours and biggest sales yet. Debuting at number 4 their first week on the Billboard charts and selling 90,000 copies, their move to a major label has been a positive one. Their first single, "Soul Meets Body," has been played on the O.C. as well. The ten other tracks on Plans offer a literal smorgasbord of melody and sound that will tickle any listener's senses.

"Soul Meets Body," the first single, displays Death Cab's ability to take somewhat simple compositions and build them into intricate combinations of harmony. Gibbard’s voice blends well and showcases its uniqueness, especially when replacing lyrics for "bapa bapa" in the chorus of this song. Hints of his side project’s influence, The Postal Service, surface in the opening of "Marching Bands Of Manhattan." The band's ability to make loneliness seem like a welcomed, introspective vacation comes across in such lines as "Sorrow drips into your heart through a pin hole, Just like a faucet that leaks and there's comfort in the sound."

Plans has its share of piano driven songs, like their previous album, Transantlanticism. "What Sarah Said" and "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" are beautiful pieces for example, with stories to match. "Summer Skin," a lyrical collaboration between Gibbard, Walla and drummer Jason McGerr, doesn't fall far behind. "Crooked Teeth" is a head-bobber with electric guitar leading the way, while "Your Heart is an Empty Room" is bound to be anybody's favorite. Death Cab spares our lonely hearts with the acoustic love song "I Will Follow You into the Dark." You can't go wrong with Death Cab's latest. You can listen to the album in its entirety, which is a definite rarity now days.

Death Cab Cutie ceases to amaze in Plans, not only with their music, but with their ability to retain both artistic and business control. In a recent Seattle interview, lead guitarist Chris Walla cited this as main encouragement for their change of labels. Craig Kallman, co-chairman of Atlantic, said it best when stating that Death Cab For Cutie "has only begun to unlock their full potential," (The Seattle Times). Frankly Mr. Co-Chairman, I agree.

So purchase this new album. Unwrap the plastic. Rip off that annoying sticker-seal and take a deep breath while inserting Plans. You are about to enjoy the latest, beautiful creation from Death Cab For Cutie.