Heart = Possessed
There is a new Death Cab for Cutie song. It will soon be followed by a new Death Cab for Cutie album. The song takes a little while to get going, but that’s just because Ben really wants to make sure you’re ready for him. It’s the musical equivalent of preheating the oven.
Anyway, someone remind me, has Ben Gibbard sold out yet, or is he still cool? Have we arrived at the backlash to the backlash stage yet? Let’s face it, this piano-heavy, space guitar shtick is pretty slick. The song feels suspiciously like something that could be played in a venue with, like, actual seating. It’s certainly a far cry from We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes, or, if you’re really cool, Something About Airplanes. Gibbard probably cut his hair. Or will anyway.
Anyway, someone let me know about the whole sell-out thing, because I kind of like the song, but I need to know whether my indie cred will suffer if I say so.
I don’t think DCFC so much as “sold out” as they’d been demoted; reduced to one of the pseudo-indie bands. They always straddled the line between member of the juvenile canon (My Chemical Romance) and “authentic” indie. I think their place has firmly been cemented in the former. In short, yes, delete this post and pretend it never happened.
— Derek · Mar 19, 10:51 AM · #
DCFC = My Chemical Romance? Seriously? I think a more apt comparison would be to the Killers. Both are mainstream-friendly indie rock bands whose albums underwhelm despite several worthy singles. To be fair, DCFC’s albums were consistently good until Transatlanticism.
Mr. Suderman,
I have yet to read your libertarian interpretation of “The Wire” for National Review. Did I miss it, or is the article still forthcoming?
— Will · Mar 19, 08:57 PM · #
It’s still forthcoming — not entirely sure when. The last issue was devoted to WFB, so the production schedule got a bit frazzled.
— Peter Suderman · Mar 20, 03:04 AM · #