Death Cab for Cutie’s Narrow Stairs

Death Cab for Cutie’s Narrow Stairs: For those upset when Death Cab for Cutie became the soundtrack for The O.C., get excited: Narrow Stairs lacks much of the pop and polish that had tweens everywhere swooning for Ben Gibbard after 2005’s Plans. The Seattle-based foursome are back to their original raw sound with a record complete with melancholic lyrics set to upbeat, driving drums (“No Sunlight”) and Gibbard’s airy vocals competing against harsher guitar riffs (“Long Division”), reminding listeners of gems from The Photo Album. And the disc’s closer, “The Ice Is Getting Thinner,” is a heartbreaking tale of loneliness and relationship dissolution. Good to know the boys are back to their old tricks.