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“The Open Door EP” sets off with a beat that will inevitably get your foot tapping, with a sound prepared to satisfy every fan of the indie rock genre. Hailing from Bellingham, Washington, the band Death Cab For Cutie starts off their newest release with a positive sound that will keep you listening. And although it seems this EP was made in part to tide over fans till the next big release, it is definitely more than that.
You might now be asking, “What is an EP exactly?”
Well, to me, they have multiple layers. Averaging from three to eight songs (although the standard length is usually five tracks), an EP could be an initial release for an up and coming band to get their music heard as quickly as possible. Or they could be gradual releases (such as “The Open Door EP” in this case), as the band is constantly writing and releasing new tracks whenever they can. They can also have a general theme or be a teaser for an album not yet released, which may include some of those tracks within it. It can even include old versions or demos of finished songs that have already been released; for example, this new Death Cab for Cutie EP has a simple acoustic version of the track “Talking Bird” off their latest full-length album, “Narrow Stairs.” Like I said, there are multiple uses of it.
In this case, the EP is a compilation of songs that were recorded during the time of the album “Narrow Stairs” but were set aside because they did not fit into the initial vibe of said album. But this is not something that would make them worse, because they have a great sound all their own. I feel like Death Cab for Cutie has been slowly expanding their arsenal of sound, and so they wanted to make these lost tracks heard.
The first track of five, titled “Little Bribes,” magnifies their general sound to larger proportions, and has an upbeat resonance that will cause anyone to smile. With words describing a slightly critical scene at a casino over openly ringing guitar, the listener can relate to the fantastic metaphors of singer Ben Gibbard. It then transitions into the second track, “A Diamond and a Tether,” a slower, more emotional song. The first words of the song are “take pity, take pity on me.” Do not let the words deter you, through; the voice of Gibbard is enough to convey the message of the track with the utmost accuracy and keep the relaxed, slow tempo song from leaving your ears.
The third track, titled “My Mirror Speaks,” once again has a strong spine of a drum beat, with ambient sliding lead guitar complimented by clapping and the soothing tones of Gibbard’s indie voice. A chorus of “ there’s a tangled thread inside his head with nothing on either end” further conveys the pessimistic outlook on life and human nature held by Gibbard. And although from these words it may sound as though these songs are depressing, it is the sound that really matters, and the sound of these songs refuse to portray that kind of feeling.
The fourth and final new track starts off right away with an initial positive sound, but holds lyrics that still come off as pessimistic. “I Was Once A Loyal Lover” includes words such as “you can’t even begin to believe, there’s so many bridges engulfed in flames behind of me,” once again providing the ever-changing contrast between words and sound. Following this track is the last song on the EP, which is a demo version of the song “Talking Bird” which keeps with the almost sad, indie vibe of all of the other tracks. The words provide wise messages that might as well leave you enlightened, as long as you keep your attention with the wit of it all.
Overall I feel the band made a good choice by releasing these tracks on a later date in the form of an EP, because it keeps the fans searching for new tunes from them, and I feel like the world can never really get enough of Death Cab for Cutie. I look forward to more from them, and will continue to spread their sound to those who can appreciate it.
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