A Review: Death Cab for Cutie’s Open Door

“I was once a loyal lover, whose lips did never seek another. But now each love’s more like a match, a blinding spark that burns out fast”

I wasn’t a big fan of Narrow Stairs. It’s probably my own fault. I subscribe too much to the If-ain’t-broken-then-it-sure-as-hell-don’t-require-no-fixing philosophy. All Death Cab purists would recognize the change of tempo and the swapping of styles that was prevalent in Narrow Stairs that just don’t seem to fit in any of their previous works.

I understand the need to try something new. I welcome it even, but Narrow Stairs just coudnt invoke the same kind of emotions that Plans or Trans did. It had teeth alright, it just didn’t really have heart.

When I unwrapped the plastic sheet to Open Door, the question that was bobbing around my mind was this. “Am I about to be inspired or am I going to be dissapointed?” You can’t blame me. The EP was recorded during the Narrow Stairs session after all.

I’ve heard Casino Blues during Ben’s solo live sets. I thought it was a decent song but I didn’t like it much till it’s evolution to become Little Bribes is complete on Open Door. The crisp production ability of Walla contributes much to the beauty of the song and Ben, as usual, is at his poetic finest. He goes, “Pretend every slot machine is a robot amputee waving hello. The people stare into their eyes and they feed them little bribes and then they go“

The record then flows seamlessly to A Diamond and a Tether.  Most reviews out there claim it’s the weakest song but I beg to differ. For someone to even conceive using the word “tether” and apply it to a song itself is pure genius to me. Yes, I’m speaking like a fanboy but fuck that – I’m not embarassed to admit that I worship the ground Ben walks on. In the chorus he sings, “I know you can’t hold out forever, Waiting on a diamond and a tether, from a boy who won’t jump. When he falls in love he just stands with his toes on the edge and he waits for it to disappear again“

Which brings us to my favourite song on the record – My Mirror Speaks. Melodically superior and vocally challenging, (Ben goes all falsetto in the chorus) I won’t spoil anything for you. Open Door closes with a demo version of Talking Bird. Just Ben and a Ukulele. Stripped off it’s elaborate production, the rawness of this song tinkers with my mind and tugs at my bones to make me appreciate the genius that is Ben.

Open Door is a very very good record. Not their best, but a pretty damn good effort for an EP. It also confirms a fact that I already well know.

That Benjamin Gibbard is indeed a gifted man.

Hey, it’s a blast to the recent past!

I was 12 or 13 when the great boom of melodic-driven rock bands staged a tour-de-force into my bedroom. Teenage angst coupled with the demise of legendary grunge act Nirvana paved the way for a more mellow brand of sound. These were the days of Third Eye Blind’s Semi Charmed Life, Matchbox 20’s Push, Wallflower’s One Headlight, Verve Pipe’s The Freshmen, Counting Crow’s A Long December, Dave Matthews Band’s Crash Into Me…..I could go on and on but you get the idea.

I locked myself in my room and spent hours after hours just listening to the radio (well yea, I have yet to discover the true power of Napster) and it was then that dreams of becoming a rock star first made it’s way into my subconscience. The 90’s has to be my most favourite musical decade but of all the great sound that was conceived then, one will always have a special place in my heart.

Collective Soul’s The World I know. Damn, that track was brilliant and the music video was simply marvelous. My love/hate relationship with Ed Roland and his brand of emotion stirring music began from that very track. I can still remember saving up my measly allowance to buy Dosage on cassette.

Over the years, my musical taste has matured significantly (At least I think so) but Collective Soul will always remain to me, the champions of teenage love/lust/hope or whatever you wanna call it. Take a listen to Satellite, off their 6th studio record Youth, which for me, has to be one of the greatest love songs ever written.

If you haven’t heard the stuff I mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to go check it out. If you have, well, then join me for a nostalgic trip down the good old times, as they say. Excuse me, while I go back to my cassettes.

Till the next post people.