Music of the 2000's: Death Cab for Cutie

For all of '09, DJdc will be featuring songs, artists or albums that we liked, loved, hated or feel had a broad impact.

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Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)

In the Fall of 2003, Death Cab for Cutie released their fourth LP, Transatlanticism. I'll be honest, at that point, the band seemed to be everywhere in the world 'o indie and I wasn't interested in buying an album that everyone else already owned to hear songs that were popping up on TV and in the movies. I'd played Ben Gibbard's The Postal Service project for the majority of 2003 and figured I'd only be let down since, in my opinion, nothing could hold a candle to the holy-grail of one-album wonders.

But in 2004, I finally broke down and bought the album because I thought I'd probably be glad I owned in when I was 50. I let it sit around and collect dust for a few weeks before I finally cracked open the CD case and popped it in the CD player one fateful night. For months after Transatlanticism was in my regular rotation. Like The Cure's Disintegration, it was an album I could put on when I was feeling like a depressed teenager and somehow feel worse and better at the same time. Despite the melancholy tone of the album it did produce one song, "The Sound of Settling", that found its way into my set lists while deejaying.

The album is highlighted by the songs "Title and Registration" and "Transatlanticism" but frankly, the flow and consistency of the album showed the maturity of the band and its success entrenched the band as indie-pop superstars with crossover appeal. The future success of the band's follow-up LP, Plans, solidified Death Cab for Cutie as one of top bands of the decade.

Recommended if you like:
Snow Patrol, Starsailor, The Shins, All-Time Quarterback