Death Cab For Cutie - 'Cath'
It might seem deliberately controversial to say so, like I'm trying to prod Death Cab fans to see if they'll cry, but there are definitely moments in this song where Ben Gibbard sounds just like James Blunt. OK, a James Blunt who doesn't seem to be trying to say the most perfect thing he can possibly think of, to a lady he wants to make sexy with. A James Blunt who can handle a loud, obnoxious guitar or two, and a James Blunt whose songs are like little film scripts, and who isn't afraid to kill off his female romantic lead, if the story demands it. But still...
I only mention this because the similarities in vocal tone do highlight the massive gulf in working practise between these two artists. Death Cab invoke the spirit of US alt-indie, and scorch their songs with skronking Sonic Youth / Neil Young guitar attack, and they do this because they need to add musical depth, to match the dark lyrics. That way a line like "she holds a smile like someone would hold a crying child" doesn't sound too much like sixth-form poetry.
James Blunt does not scorch his songs with anything, and maybe he should. I can think of a few people who would like to help him do it too.
On the other hand, Death Cab For Cutie aren't all that good at writing internationally massive hit singles. This is partly because their songs tend to be harder to define on first listen, and too subtle to barge to the front of your mind while the radio is playing and demand your undivided attention. This, for example, is a classic example of a good album track. In the context of their also-good album 'Narrow Stairs', it sits nicely among similarly good songs.
In the context of the wider musical world, it's less impressive and a bit ploddy to really win over huge amounts of people.
So, there's your dilemma. Either take your girly voice, write some hit singles and learn to live with the fact that people will mock you for it, or take your girly voice, write some gnarly album tracks and learn to live without a gold-plated tour bus.
OR release 'Long Division' as a single, as that's a much better choice...
Download: Out now
CD Released: July 21st
(Fraser McAlpine)
PS: , in a way that made me giggle. Especially the picture link...
Comment number 1.
At 20th Jul 2008, glovecompartment wrote:nice review, i did think cath was an odd choice for a single.
I think 'no sunlight' would be preferable to long division. Or grapevine fires.
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