Narrow Stairs and Feel the Noise

Initial impression - Narrow Stairs isn't as wholly listenable as Death Cab for Cutie's previous two albums, Plans and Transatlanticism, but is still worthy of attention. Standout tracks include You Can Do Better Than Me, Your New Twin Sized Bed, No Sunlight and the first single, I Will Possess Your Heart. These are favourites from a musical standpoint (particularly the first two songs which invoke sunny afternoons in completely different ways). Haven't yet had time to digest lyrical strength. Fortunately, CBC recently introduced a weekly feature called Feel the Noise where two writers debate the merits of new discs and Narrow Stairs got the treatment earlier this month. The comments section is filled with disparaging remarks about the personal nature of Feel the Noise's concept but I like it. Anecdotes and life reflections are a nice break from the pretentious and unduly snide commentary that often comprises "proper" music reviews.

On a related Death Cab note - Ben Gibbard and Chris Walla cover Billy Bragg's fantastic You Woke Up My Neighbourhood here. Nice choice.