(Generic Title Here)

Title: Transatlanticism
Artist: Death Cab For Cutie
Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Electronic/Dance
Tracks: 11
Runtime: 46 minutes

Initial Appeal:
This album is very popular in the Independent Rock community, so I had high expectations. I had several friends recommend it, and I had heard some songs off the album before I actually sat down and gave it a good, thorough listen. But the hype is well-deserved.

I’d give the initial appeal an 8.5/10. You can never judge a book by it’s cover completely, as some people aren’t into the whole keyboard/vocal/guitar combination. This album will stand the test of time, but it’s unsure of how much time it will stand up against.

Creativity:
Right off the bat, Death Cab For Cutie is a vocal-heavy group. With that being said, I like Ben Gibbard’s lyrics. They relate to the meaning of the title well, and they often are creative and pun-filled (See “Title And Registration” for a prime example). They’re expertly delivered by his clear, warming voice, as well as being expertly mixed. They’re placed above the instrument tracks, but they’re not screaming into your headphones. However, there are certain things he does do a little too much, such as saying something similar to “Wo-ah!” or using the same pitches for his lyrics in every song. A little variety won’t hurt anyone.

Onto the instruments, now.

The guitars are basic and blend well with the keyboard tracks. They’re not a guitar-based/heavy group, so it’s very easy on the ears. The keyboards set a nice upbeat (Or downbeat, it varies from song-to-song) mood which the drums and bass accompany quite well. They have some catchy up-beat (And again, down-beat) songs that are well put together. The drums are rather easy on the ears, and are obviously placed at the bottom of the mixing queue, right below (Or next to, depending on who you ask) the bass tracks. Simplicity is good, but sometimes it leaves you with a yearning for something more complex and challenging to listen to.

In short: Ben Gibbard’s great and thought-out lyrics, as well as his soothing voice, mixed with the simple, catchy instrumental tracks create very relaxing, simple, and interesting music. However, Gibbard seems to use the same pitches a lot, which can get redundant (Such as my vocabulary). I give the creativity a 9/10.

Re-Playability:
The album has many relaxing songs, which are great for those late-night study sessions, or perhaps just trying to set the mood with a special someone. Gibbard doesn’t push his voice into extreme highs, and he doesn’t try to growl out notes. He’s a nice median in terms of vocal ranges.

The drums set a nice, easy beat that sticks with you, and overall the music can easily get stuck in your head. It’s a nice album to put on as you drive to work or walk to school.

Overall, I’d say this album has a high re-playability factor, so I’d give it a 10/10. The songs are catchy and easily blend into each other, and are highly relaxing. It’s great for de-stressing.

Emotional Value:
Overall, this album doesn’t radiate much emotion. It’s more or less something you’d expect somebody to come up with while smoking marijuana. The songs are warm, but they feel a tad sterile in terms of sincerity. They [Death Cab For Cutie] deliver their music with conviction, but alas, I fail to pick up any form of feeling.

In short, I give the emotional value a 4.5/10, just because Gibbard seems to try and put a bit much more forth, which seems to be it’s only real deeming emotional quality.

Album Art/Video:
The album art is very strange indeed. It features a Black Crow (Or Raven? Birds are not my specialty) perched on a twig, with red yarn wrapped around it. It’s juxtaposed onto a beige/tan background.

It’s thought-provoking, which I like, however, it seems a tad random.

But upon a further inspection, the bird brings the phrase “As the crow flies” to my mind, which I believe was a sea-faring term, which relates to the title “Transatlantcisim” (Or so I believe. Correct me if I’m wrong).

Overall, the art is well-done. It creates a soothing image for a rather-soothing album. An 8.25/10. I think the red yarn is very subliminal in its meaning, and I don’t think anyone would pick up on it (As I didn’t).

Overall:
This album is a nice piece to play while sipping coffee in a cafe with a loved one. It’s great to listen to while you have a light conversation with someone about interests or memories. I’d recommend this album to anyone who spends a lot of time awake at night, or to someone who’s stressed, as it can really help you out in that department.

However, if you’re into an album with a bit more feeling and meaning behind the actual music, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

Overall, I’d give it a 7.50/10.