Media 2011, post 1: music, Codes and Keys
Um, don't worry that I haven't done any strictly media posts for almost a year. I may attempt to go back and review some of the new albums I've listened to this year. I may not.
But for now...
Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys (2011) ★★★
I love DCFC. I really do. I enjoy listening to this album, I will probably listen to it pretty exclusively over the next week. But it's not THE BEST DCFC ALBUM EVER for me. That glory goes to Plans. But this is good. Not endlessly amazing, but solidly good, and I genuinely like it. I definitely recommend watching the recent VH1 Storytellers episode DCFC did. LINK
A break down, track by track:
Home Is A Fire - 4
An opening track with an inviting energy bubbling beneath the surface of the sound. It’s the kind of song that’s great for not a road trip, but riding on a train or plane, looking at the window as the scenery rushes by your window. I love the timing on the chorus.
Codes and Keys - 2
I don’t really love the string sound in the verses, but I do like the musical sound more once the chorus comes along. The last minute of the song is when it really comes alive and speaks to me. Um, which mirrors the lyrics. Anyway, fine, but not my favorite.
Some Boys - 3
The song begins with intrigue, and it keeps my attention throughout. I think this is one of those tracks that I’ll just like until one day it comes up on random in my iTunes, an I suddenly fall hard and fast and play it on repeat for a few days as it carves a niche in my heart.
Doors Unlocked and Open - 2
There’s 70 seconds of instrumental at the beginning of this song that I don’t know what to do with. In general I’m not sure what to do with this song yet. It’s probably good for my trips to the library. And walking around campus. It’s a background song, for me, essentially.
You Are a Tourist - 4
This is the first single from the album, and I actually feel like it would’ve made the perfect opening track… but DCFC had a reason for putting it here in the lineup - I assume I’ll understand why it’s here after I hear the whole album. I just really like the guitar and voicing on this track. The lyrics are also really interesting to me.
Unobstructed Views - 4
Now this song has three minutes of instrumental in the beginning, and I felt very different than I did with Doors Unlocked. This one really painted that whole feeling of an unobstructed view, and I actually found myself waxing self-reflective. The whole song is just really lush. It’s what I sometimes classify in my iTunes library as a ‘rain’ song - it just has that methodical/relaxing feel through the whole thing.
Monday Morning - 2
The lyrics are what make this song for me. I got lost in the middle of it a bit. A lot of this album is kind of a progression of DCFC’s sound, but this track isn’t really that way for me, and so it just sort of… doesn’t feel like it belongs to me. I like the track, I just don’t like it on this album.
Portable Television - 3
A good tune, especially the second half. Just full of a lot of listening energy. I want this to be on the soundtrack for some awesome summer movie, during a montage/line-free part.
Underneath the Sycamore - 4
This follows the last track really really well. So well that I didn’t quite realize the song had changed. I love the chorus for this song, just the mix of vocals, rhythm, guitar and bass. Well, actually, the mixing for the whole track is awesome.
St Peter’s Cathedral - 4
I think this is one of those songs you listen to driving in your car at night on your way home from hanging out with friends, windows rolled down, reveling in the quietness of the night around you. Four and a half minutes of music to create a nostalgic and contemplative mood of happiness.
Stay Young, Go Dancing - 3.5
A really folksy song, which I think is in direct relation to the fact that Mr. Gibbard married one Zooey Deschanel of She & Him, and this is a love song. I like it, but it … idk, it’s not very Death Cab to me, but I do like it a lot. I think I would just feel a lot better about the song if it were a single released by Ben alone. It’s okay that I’m a little OCD like that about music. Don’t judge me.
Overall, a good album.
But for now...
Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys (2011) ★★★
I love DCFC. I really do. I enjoy listening to this album, I will probably listen to it pretty exclusively over the next week. But it's not THE BEST DCFC ALBUM EVER for me. That glory goes to Plans. But this is good. Not endlessly amazing, but solidly good, and I genuinely like it. I definitely recommend watching the recent VH1 Storytellers episode DCFC did. LINK
A break down, track by track:
Home Is A Fire - 4
An opening track with an inviting energy bubbling beneath the surface of the sound. It’s the kind of song that’s great for not a road trip, but riding on a train or plane, looking at the window as the scenery rushes by your window. I love the timing on the chorus.
Codes and Keys - 2
I don’t really love the string sound in the verses, but I do like the musical sound more once the chorus comes along. The last minute of the song is when it really comes alive and speaks to me. Um, which mirrors the lyrics. Anyway, fine, but not my favorite.
Some Boys - 3
The song begins with intrigue, and it keeps my attention throughout. I think this is one of those tracks that I’ll just like until one day it comes up on random in my iTunes, an I suddenly fall hard and fast and play it on repeat for a few days as it carves a niche in my heart.
Doors Unlocked and Open - 2
There’s 70 seconds of instrumental at the beginning of this song that I don’t know what to do with. In general I’m not sure what to do with this song yet. It’s probably good for my trips to the library. And walking around campus. It’s a background song, for me, essentially.
You Are a Tourist - 4
This is the first single from the album, and I actually feel like it would’ve made the perfect opening track… but DCFC had a reason for putting it here in the lineup - I assume I’ll understand why it’s here after I hear the whole album. I just really like the guitar and voicing on this track. The lyrics are also really interesting to me.
Unobstructed Views - 4
Now this song has three minutes of instrumental in the beginning, and I felt very different than I did with Doors Unlocked. This one really painted that whole feeling of an unobstructed view, and I actually found myself waxing self-reflective. The whole song is just really lush. It’s what I sometimes classify in my iTunes library as a ‘rain’ song - it just has that methodical/relaxing feel through the whole thing.
Monday Morning - 2
The lyrics are what make this song for me. I got lost in the middle of it a bit. A lot of this album is kind of a progression of DCFC’s sound, but this track isn’t really that way for me, and so it just sort of… doesn’t feel like it belongs to me. I like the track, I just don’t like it on this album.
Portable Television - 3
A good tune, especially the second half. Just full of a lot of listening energy. I want this to be on the soundtrack for some awesome summer movie, during a montage/line-free part.
Underneath the Sycamore - 4
This follows the last track really really well. So well that I didn’t quite realize the song had changed. I love the chorus for this song, just the mix of vocals, rhythm, guitar and bass. Well, actually, the mixing for the whole track is awesome.
St Peter’s Cathedral - 4
I think this is one of those songs you listen to driving in your car at night on your way home from hanging out with friends, windows rolled down, reveling in the quietness of the night around you. Four and a half minutes of music to create a nostalgic and contemplative mood of happiness.
Stay Young, Go Dancing - 3.5
A really folksy song, which I think is in direct relation to the fact that Mr. Gibbard married one Zooey Deschanel of She & Him, and this is a love song. I like it, but it … idk, it’s not very Death Cab to me, but I do like it a lot. I think I would just feel a lot better about the song if it were a single released by Ben alone. It’s okay that I’m a little OCD like that about music. Don’t judge me.
Overall, a good album.