Death Cab for Cutie - The Open Door EP

[Jeremy Aaron]

Death Cab for Cutie - The Open Door EP
Record Label: Atlantic Records
Release Date: April 14, 2009

Who?

Death Cab for Cutie's The Open Door EP is a collection of leftover tracks that didn't make it onto the genre-defining indie-rockers' latest full length, Narrow Stairs, along with a demo version of that album's "Talking Bird."

How Is It?

When approaching the first listen to a release of this type, it's probably best to proceed with caution and not to expect too much. After all, if the material wasn't good enough to make the album, how good could it be? Then again, we're talking about Death Cab for Cutie, and the album in question was one of the best (or at least one of my favorite) releases of 2008 and a solid addition to the band's already highly-celebrated catalog. With these factors in mind, my own expectations for the EP ran a little higher than I'd normally allow, but The Open Door did not disappoint.

As you'd expect, the songs on the EP sound a lot like those on Narrow Stairs, so fans of that album should enjoy this as well. As usual, Ben Gibbard's lyrics and vocals are the centerpoint, and as on Stairs the band performs in the similarly organic guitar rock style, a la Built to Spill (listen to the guitar squall on opener "Little Bribes"), that made the album a slight departure from their earlier polished pop sound, while also being a further testament to Gibbard's status as a melodic mastermind. Supposedly left off the album because they didn't mesh with the feel of the record, the songs aren't second-rate at all, and the only reason any one of them would sound strange to me among the album's tracks is because I've listened to it so many times as it is.

Gibbard is known is one of music's more earnest lyricists, and The Open Door EP finds him expectedly confessional. There's a thematic consistency running through the songs that makes this set feel like a cohesive whole. On "A Diamond and a Tether," he paints himself as someone with "fantasies of being alone" who "won't jump when he falls in love." Likewise, on "My Mirror Speaks," he's "a man who hides from all that binds" that can't help but "fall in love with an open door." The title of "I Was Once a Loyal Lover" telegraphs its content, Gibbard's boredom in relationships, as he makes the comparison, "Life with a nice girl's like waiting for a bus to work." The Open Door is an apt title for the collection, as it focuses largely on his propensity to run out on his current situation. His lyrics indicate a keen self-awareness-- he knows he's his own worst enemy, but just can't seem to help himself.

The EP probably could have done without the demo version of "Talking Bird," accompanied only by the strumming of a ukulele. For me, the final version was one of the weaker moments on Narrow Stairs and this version could have gone unheard, not to mention that it just sounds out of place on this set. Otherwise, the previously unreleased material is sure to please fans of Death Cab in general and Narrow Stairs in particular, providing just enough to hold us over until the next release.

Death Cab for Cutie's Narrow Stairs
Built to Spill's Keep It Like a Secret
Deas Vail's All the Houses Look the Same
The Decemberists' The Crane Wife
Band of Horses' Everything All the Time

Check out Death Cab for Cutie on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/deathcabforcutie).

[bloodymurder]

I am completely obsessed with "I Was Once a Loyal Lover", still have not stopped consistently stopped listening to that song.

[hockeyguitar99]

I like this EP, it got a little overshadowed by the new Silversun Pickups album, but it is certainly a good listen.

[Blake Solomon]

i didn't like narrow stairs at all, so i've been hesitant to check this out.

[Jeremy Aaron]

i didn't like narrow stairs at all, so i've been hesitant to check this out.
It's probably not worth it for you, though it is only about fifteen minutes. I can't see anyone really liking this after not liking Stairs.

[atticusfinch]

I was highly disappointed in narrow stairs, honestly. It sounded like a bunch of Death Cab b-sides. It didn't have the same magic as Plans/Transatlanticism/The Photo Album had for me.

I picked this up on record store day for 5 bucks either way for a friend of mine. I don't mind the songs, just easily forgettable is all.

[briXinRhands]

I really like Open Door as well, but I think it sounds pretty different than NS, much more upbeat on the whole.

[xjulianx89]

I didn't like Narrow Stairs at first, but it grew on me.

[squared82]

I really liked Narrow Stairs and the Open Door. I feel like any of the songs off of Open Door should have replaced Talking Bird. (except of course, Talking Bird)

[Everiggs]

Narrow Stairs was one of my top albums for 2008, and this EP is the perfect extension of it.

[circatbs]

I really love this EP, it sounds a lot poppier than Narrow Stairs.

[Keagan Ilvonen]

Great EP and a great review.

[princesschad]

Great EP.

[ffadam]

This isn't a b-side EP is it? I thought it was songs that were written that didn't fit the 'vibe' of Narrow Stairs so kept them back.

[jwicklun]

I am completely obsessed with "I Was Once a Loyal Lover", still have not stopped consistently stopped listening to that song.
that songs the shit, along with my mirror speaks

[NoGaypnkNamLikU]

Am I the only person who really likes Talking Bird??

[EndSerenading]

EP was kinda 'meh' for me. Then again "Narrow Stairs" was a disappointment as a whole to me as well. I love love love some of their early stuff though.

Am I the only person who really likes Talking Bird??

The version on Narrow Stairs is one of my least favorite death cab songs I've heard to be honest. The few times I play NS I always skip past it now. This version on the EP was alright though; a lot better than the album version imo.

[youngmountain]

i didn't like narrow stairs at all, so i've been hesitant to check this out.
The song, 'I was once a loyal lover' I think beats anything on 'Narrow Stairs', so it may be worth checking it out.

[RonStoppable]

I liked the EP, and I thought it had a kind of folky vibe, but while I enjoyed it, I'd rather not have a full-length exploring this style of material. And I absolutely loved Narrow Stairs.

[yayitsjoe]

i enjoyed the EP. and i feel that this is a good rating. however, i would've probably gave creativity like a six. some of the songs could be mistaken for songs on previous albums.

[xdylanx]

so much better than narrow stairs!

[Debut_Fin]

Am I the only person who really likes Talking Bird??
probably. death cab is one of my favorite bands and that songs makes me cringe

[swagmagnet]

Am I the only person who really likes Talking Bird??
No way, I love that song. I agree that the demo version on Open Door EP is out of place and could have been left off, but I really like the Narrow Stairs version.

Also, anybody who didn't like NS might like Little Bribes. I think it is completely different from NS, in that it has a country-rock-type guitar riff and sweet lyrics about hanging out in a casino. I loved NS, and of course love this EP.

[Charblarger]

i loved narrow stairs. i agree that these songs would have not meshed well with the album. Also i could have done without taking bird on either albums

[ExplodingStereo]

I actually find these songs better than half of the Narrow Stairs songs. I liked Narrow, but this feels like a better progression for the band. Definitely a must-buy for all their fans.

[batmannj]

I like this EP

[get up kidd]

I might like this ep a LITTLE bit more than narrow stairs

[CarouselBoy]

Good review. I can't wait to get this on their tour. I feel like any of the songs on the EP could have easily replaced Talking Bird. That song to me is so out of place on NS.

[boscorelli]

im surprised so many dislike narrow stairs, id rank that as probably my fave death cab album, if not for the amazing production alone. it just sounds totally perfect to me in every way, with the exception of talking bird lol so glad im not alone in hating that song. the melody is decent, but the lyrics are awful.

this ep further adds to my love of this band.

[TheClockSounds]

I love the ep, goes great with the album

[heyozzie]

loved narrow stairs, loved this.

[EndSerenading]

im surprised so many dislike narrow stairs, id rank that as probably my fave death cab album, if not for the amazing production alone. it just sounds totally perfect to me in every way, with the exception of talking bird lol so glad im not alone in hating that song. the melody is decent, but the lyrics are awful.

this ep further adds to my love of this band.
I mean, I didn't hate it or anything, but it was certainly a disappointment and easily my least favorite dcfc album. Then again, I have a very different ranking of death cab albums than most people on here for sure. If I ranked just their full length studio albums it looks like this for me:

we have the facts and we're voting yes
photo album
something about airplanes
transatlanticism
plans
narrow stairs

Though I really enjoy them all (besides NS which I am lukewarm on)

/shrug

To each their own.

[Dunc]

In a strange way, i think the ukulele version of Talking Bird has a better feel to it than the album version, but having said that, the album version of the track sits much more comfortably with the rest of Narrow Stairs. Nice EP though.

[itsbusinesstime]

Big fan of narrow stairs...I think little bribes is a great fucking song too. Definitely picking this up.

[xNyssa]

I haven't listened to the new EP as much as the other songs of Death Cab. I think it has to grow on me. Great review by the way, although I don't feel TOD and NS are that much alike. Like you said, these songs are a bit more uptempo. But it does fit the whole more grown up-vibe, that I get from NS.

But Ben has announced that he's sort of done with the darker songs.

[MyNameIsRoss]

i didn't like narrow stairs at all, so i've been hesitant to check this out.
What didn't you like about it?

[FaceLixeMurder]

i didn't like narrow stairs at all, so i've been hesitant to check this out.
I can understand that, the first time I heard it, I was a bit confused, but then after a few listens it really grew on me. Narrow Stairs is still one of their weaker releases, and didn't have instant acceptance from my ears as most Death Cab records do.

[Holly HoX!]

It's probably not worth it for you, though it is only about fifteen minutes. I can't see anyone really liking this after not liking Stairs.
Dude, you reviewed the new Thermals album, right? Right. Well, thanks dude! That album is sooo good.

[Dunc]

Narrow Stairs...didn't have instant acceptance from my ears as most Death Cab records do.

i know exactly what you mean about that, i heard a couple of tracks before i heard the whole thing - i think it was pity and fear and the album version of i will possess your heart - and after i was so accustomed to the previous albums, i was really thrown. i have grown to love it though, and i think it's a brilliant record, with some of their best tracks on it. i love the feel of the whole thing, as an album. i don't think some of the tracks work as well when they stand alone, as they have done on previous albums, but in context, they are excellent.

[theotherivan]

Despite enjoying the record, you really missed the beat on this review. This has very few stylistic similarities to Narrow Stairs; its a much more poppy affair. NS was grim as all hell.

[hydraulicheart]

I love "Little Bribes" and "My Mirror Speaks". So good.

[Analog Rebellion]

I like this release more than Narrow Stairs.

[Broden Terry]

Still need to check this EP out. I'm looking forward to it. Fantastic review.

[patpratt]

It's probably not worth it for you, though it is only about fifteen minutes. I can't see anyone really liking this after not liking Stairs.
i hated stairs, but love this ep

[navidson]

Am I the only person who really likes Talking Bird??
Nope - Its far and away my favourite song on Narrow Stairs - Weakest song for me is probably Cath - I never understood why people went so mad for that song!

[EndSerenading]

Nope - Its far and away my favourite song on Narrow Stairs - Weakest song for me is probably Cath - I never understood why people went so mad for that song!
haha, cath is one of my favorite songs on the album and talking bird is my least favorite. different strokes!

[Skees]

Thought this was a solid EP. Between the release of this and seeing them live recently, my opinion of Narrow Stairs totally changed.

[chadeous]

While no first party could convince a 2nd party that these songs don't fit on narrow stairs, they are to me, more enjoyable. Perhaps when a band departs further from pop it is better served in small quantities. I think we can all find common ground that this is not a 2nd rate b-sides album

[joemmerboy]

ben gibbard is crazy. haha.
every death cab album is great.

[Chris92]

It's probably not worth it for you, though it is only about fifteen minutes. I can't see anyone really liking this after not liking Stairs.
Well...suppose I am the exception that proves the rule. This is in the running for my favorite Death Cab release of all time. However, Narrow Stairs is easily my least favorite. Weird, huh?