【Album】Death Cab for Cutie ─ Kintsugi

Death Cab for Cutie ─ Kintsugi

Death Cab for Cutie is an well-known American alternative rock band, starting since 2007, but they faced a tremendous change last year before new album released which is that Chris Walla, the leading guitarist announced the news of leaving Death Cab for Cutie. I believe that it's a shocking moment for all their fans; however, Walla promised he would continued contributing to the recording and creative process as a full band member until the album's completion. If you are looking for the uncoordinated and falling-apart sounds from the band, then you'd better turn around and leave. 《Kintsugi》is still an dedicated, classic Death Cab for Cutie album which comes along with lots of whether self-referential or someone else's stories.

With the intro "No Room in Frame" which gives me so Icelandic feeling music from the beginning part with electronic collages on the background, the unbalance but all-in-tune frequencies of all the instrument surprisingly amaze me by the harmony with Gibbard's unique voice and different instrumental patterns at the same time.

Just like the lyrics "There's too many things that I can't remember as I disappeared like a trend in the hum of the 5 in the early morning", you shouldn't set up an limited frame; instead, building up pathos-loaded room to grieve for those loses of yourself is a better way to be remembered. 

Another lingering melody and lyrics from Death Cab for Cutie arranging with epicish instrument playing, they do make another #1 hit song in their new album.Loaded with nomadic lyrics and single beats from other instruments in the beginning, we are waiting for the sparks exploding in the chorus. And you would never expect the smothering guitar sound for the collide. I do like the layers they build up in this song, because you can't help but fall into their one-feel-fits-all atmosphere and question yourself for the unfairness happened in life.

     

"You sent a photo out your window of Paris of what you wish that I could see, 

but someone's gotta be the lighthouse, and that someone's gotta be me."

If you are also a wanderer/traveler like me, then we must share the same feeling of how amazing traveling is without standing on people who wait for us' side, just as the lyrics said. As growing older, I embrace more freedom and responsibilities meanwhile. You get to see the world while young, on the other side, you would also face the difficulties of leaving whom you love and those who love you with all their heart. It's a bittersweet decision to make once you have the tiny seed plants in mind, you would never get rid off the free bird hovering around waiting for the right timing to taking off. 

I love the lyrics of Little Wanderer, not only because how it reminds me that I am still surrounded by family and friends who always put me on top of their thousands thoughts, but also how lucky I am to be the one who could share stories with others; meanwhile, could embrace those who care about me after going home.

Somehow, Good Help (Is so Hard to Find) reminds me of OK Go and 1975, or more precisely, the genre of Power Rock/Pop. Among Death Cab for Cutie's recent albums, this song pops out upon others distinguished easily, also younger and cheerfully pop-ish. The lyrics do matches its title "Good Help (Is so Hard to Find)", especially after they've already sung the answer out loud: " Only fools would give it away".

Overall, it's an outstanding album, maintaining Death Cab for Cutie's sustainable standard of all time, but I greedily expect more unconventional beats from Death Cab  for Cutie. Instead of drinking Whiskey with black sun, they would play more like fools who give all their abilities and emotions away.