Death Cab For Cutie - Thank You For Today (Album Review)

First, some housekeeping. ‘Thank You For Today’ is Death Cab For Cutie’s first recording without guitarist and producer Chris Walla, which is something that could have hung heavy over the release. But to his bandmates’ credit his departure, and the addition of Dave Depper and Zac Rae to the line up, hasn’t sent things into a skid. Here the indie-rock lifers have newfound energy and, as a result, their ninth album is by and large an uplifting experience.

Although it was produced by Rich Costey, an all star performer who also helmed its predecessor, 2015’s ‘Kintsugi’, vocalist and guitarist Ben Gibbard recently admitted that their new material has more in common with their early 2000s output both tonally and lyrically. That places it alongside some of their best-loved, Walla-produced releases, setting it the task of, as Gibbard puts it, “looking forwards and backwards simultaneously.”

Gibbard is now 41, or past the point of no return as he sees it. He has reached a time in his life where he cannot choose different paths; all he can do is navigate the one he is on as best he can.

‘Thank You For Today’ finds Death Cab looking inward and Gibbard reflecting on how he got to where he is, while also determining how he will move forward. Again, there’s that push-pull of the past versus the present.

When We Drive, a song that displays Gibbard’s ability to paint a vivid picture, plays with the idea of history and present circumstances in a beautifully subtle way. “I can’t expect you to be honest, or to be faithful to the end, I just need you to be always a friend,” Gibbard sings. “As the sun sets over Dakota, underneath the crimson ocean of sky, know I’ll always want you by my side.”

Gold Rush, the record’s standout track, deals in country-influenced guitars, interweaving melodies and a chanted chorus, lyrically circling back to the overarching theme again. Gibbard explores the link between memory and geography, and how the loss of places that were formative to his development feels like losing a part of his history, making him a stranger in his own town.

Musically, the record is quietly majestic: uptempo, breezy and effortlessly earnest. Near/Far is a danceable number imbued with longing, while You Moved Away collects memories of a loved one leaving over a propulsive beat, synth layers and stripped back guitars.

Where ‘Kintsugi’ was a stylistic mixed bag, here we have a cohesive piece of work that will no doubt hit home with Death Cab fans, despite the occasional monotonous moment. It should chime particularly well with those who came up with the band, and are now nearer to middle age than they are their teens.

Death Cab For Cutie Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:

Thu January 24 2019 - DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
Fri January 25 2019 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Sat January 26 2019 - GLASGOW O2 Academy Glasgow
Mon January 28 2019 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Tue January 29 2019 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Wed January 30 2019 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Fri February 01 2019 - LONDON Eventim Apollo

Click here to compare & buy Death Cab For Cutie Tickets at Stereoboard.com.

More Reviews from Laura Johnson

Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers - Bought To Rot

Swearin' - Fall Into The Sun

Idles - Joy As An Act Of Resistance

Florence and the Machine - High As Hope

Speedy Ortiz - Twerp Verse

Nervus - Everything Dies

Camp Cope - How To Socialise & Make Friends

Starcrawler - Starcrawler

Shopping - The Official Body

Shamir - Revelations

Bully - Losing

Weaves - Wide Open

Related News

Death Cab For Cutie Line Up Australia And New Zealand Shows For March

Mon 26 Nov 2018

Death Cab for Cutie will head to Australia and New Zealand in March.

Death Cab For Cutie Share New 'Thank You For Today' Track Autumn Love

Wed 01 Aug 2018

Death Cab For Cutie have shared another track from their new album.

Death Cab For Cutie Share New Song I Dreamt We Spoke Again

Thu 19 Jul 2018

Death Cab For Cutie have shared another song from their new LP.

Muse - Simulation Theory (Album Review)

Tue 20 Nov 2018

Photo: Jeff Forney ‘Simulation Theory’ is confusing. Why is such an objectively bad album so enjoyable? The tale of the tape for Muse’s eighth LP is that it’s a mash-up of genres delivered with a crushing sense of overkill on the production side of things. Die-hard fans of the band’s early work will go into it with truly dreadful expectations—after all, they haven’t released a good album in years.

Muse Confirm Summer UK Stadium Shows For Simulation Theory World Tour - Tickets On Sale November 16

Mon 05 Nov 2018

Muse have lined up some huge shows for summer 2019.

Muse Add Bristol Date To Simulation Theory World Tour

Sun 02 Dec 2018

Photo: Jeff Forney Muse have added a Bristol date to their Simulation Theory world tour.

Paul Carrack Adds Second Birmingham Date To Tour Plans

Fri 02 Nov 2018

Paul Carrack has announced a second show at Birmingham's Symphony Hall.

Dream Theater Share Epic New Track Untethered Angel From Upcoming LP 'Distance Over Time'

Fri 07 Dec 2018

Dream Theater have shared the lead single from their upcoming LP, 'Distance Over Time'.