Since hitting the mainstream hard, Death Cab for Cutie has surely been on a roll. They have been in the limelight since reaching number one on Billboard’s 200 last May. Just under a year later the band has released The Open Door EP. Although newer Death Cab is missing the dirty realism that defined their lyrics earlier in their career, the opening song “”Little Bribes”” is a poppy song, catchy enough to keep everyone humming along. Lyrically less complex than many other tunes, it still holds DCFC’s signature charm.
“”A Diamond And A Tether”” emanates that same poppy sound but it’s the laidback storytelling that gives it a slight edge. Although pleasant, it is not the most remarkable song Death Cab has ever brought to the table.
A tune that makes the EP is “”My Mirror Speaks.”” Its sound is irresistible and stays with you after the first listen. It harkens back to a day of Death Cab past but still doesn’t bring everything it could in comparison to their gritty older songs. When a band goes mainstream their sound always changes – often for the worse. It seems odd that this song didn’t make the full-length Narrow Stairs as it seems a great fit. The band themselves said it was left off because of its unremarkableness. “”I Once Was A Loyal Lover”” is another tune that seems a great fit for their full-length release. It is again pop-tastic and far from the Death Cab I once loved, but lyrically and in terms of composition it has the makings of a hit single. Its toe-tapping quality makes it a nice song to unwind to.
Getting back to classic Ben Gibbard is “”Talking Birds,”” an earlier demo of a song that did make their full-length album, with just Death Cab’s front man and his guitar. It feels organic and simple. Its straight-to-the-point sound and lyrics take well to the simple makeup of the demo.
While there is no going back to what once was, with Death Cab now in the mainstream, The Open Door EP is a light pop-filled 5-track gem that is worth a listen or two, despite its lack of that classic Death Cab grit.
Rating: *****
