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Narrow Stairs | 
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| Artist: Death Cab For Cutie
Label: Atlantic
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $7.00
You Save: $11.98 (63%)
New (63) Used (29) from $6.75
Rating:  99 reviews
Sales Rank: 135
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 452796
UPC: 075678994654
EAN: 0075678994654
ASIN: B0017I1RH4
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Bixby Canyon Bridge | | • | I Will Possess Your Heart | | • | No Sunlight | | • | Cath? | | • | Talking Bird | | • | You Can Do Better Than Me | | • | Grapevine Fires | | • | Your New Twin Sized Bed | | • | Long Division | | • | Pity And Fear | | • | The Ice Is Getting Thinner |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk
Narrow Stairs might be the first album recorded by Death Cab for Cutie since Ben Gibbard's former solo project went unexpectedly stratospheric, but Gibbard hasn't let it go to his head. Oh, OK, maybe a little: lead-off single "I Will Possess Your Heart" is an eight minute jam that speeds off on one long, luminous curve before Gibbard's distinctive vocals swing in, sweet and plaintive as ever. Even when indulging their grander visions, though, Death Cab for Cutie are still familiar as the same band that wrote those fragile, winsome songs back before teen drama The OC came knocking. Never knowingly overstated, built from driving rhythms, flourishes of piano and intricate melodies, Narrow Stairs builds grand, emotionally loaded narratives from small, subtle parts. "Your New Twin Sized Bed" hides a deftly articulated tale of heartbreak and loneliness amidst soothing tangles of guitar, while "You Can Do Better than Me" is a sweet miniature that's part Pet Sounds orchestration, part wistful Dear John. This isn't, as Gibbard would previously hint, a dissonant or especially adventurous album. It proves, however, that Death Cab can extend their scope without diluting the pathos or energy of their music, and it not only sounds great, but bodes well for the future. --Louis Pattison
Amazon.com
After relentless touring, performances on Saturday Night Live, and appearing on the cover of Spin and Paste Magazines, Death Cab for Cutie brings us Narrow Stairs. Following up their DVD collection, Directions, which sold over 30,000 copies and their platinum selling album, Plans, was no easy task but Narrow Stairs has already been praised by MTV.com as the band's most daring and adventurous effort to date.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 94 more reviews...
 A Masterpiece November 12, 2008
DW (chicago, IL)
You should get Death Cab's Narrow Stairs for the first four songs alone. Each is a model of perfection. Even though 'I Will Possess Your Heart' clocks in at over 7 minutes, you never get bored.
This is a must have.
[DW]
 Disappointing after "Plans" November 7, 2008
M. Pattee (Saint Louis, MO)
I don't want to be one of those people who can't enjoy Item A because of the existence of Item B, which they feel is so superior to Item A that they can't enjoy A because of the inferiority in comparison to B, but... well, that's kind of how I feel in this case. In my example, Item A is this album, "Narrow Stairs", and Item B is Death Cab's 2005 "Plans".
Prior to purchasing "Plans", I owned a few Death Cab albums, including "Transatlanticism" and "The Photo Album", which I thought were alright but, with the notable exceptions of stand-out tracks like "Tiny Vessels" and the "Transatlanticism", never really grabbed my attention. I wouldn't listen to either CD without skipping. I absolutely adored the songs I adored and liked the band overall, but decided that I would never buy an album of theirs again, just download the songs that I liked.
Then "Plans" came out, and I loved every track. I listened to that album on endless repeat, saw their show in St. Louis this year, and decided to take a chance and buy "Narrow Stairs" in its entirety. Sigh. And we're back to "The Photo Album" where I like two or three songs and skip through everything else. It's not that the rest of the album is unlistenable, just that it's not, to me, exceptional.
I know it's not fair to decide one piece of art against another by the same artist, but when that artist paints a masterpiece, setting a whole new level for your expectations, and then fails to live up to it, you can't help but think, "Where did the guy who painted the Mona Lisa go?"
"Grapevine Fires" is an incredible song, and for me, the highlight of the album. It's an evocative meditation on the wildfires in California and the frailty of human civilization. LOVE IT! I also like "I Will Possess Your Heart" and "Bixby Canyon Bridge". "Cath..." has amazing lyrics, but I'm not fond of the song.
A great disc!! November 5, 2008
Music Cassier (Georgia)
A simple and sweet review. I admit I am a relatively new DCFC fan, within the last few years, but I really enjoy this disc. I own the previous 2 releases and enjoy them just as well! The differences between this one and Plans are highly appealing to me. I cannot believe some do not like this cd. Must be fair weather fans. Nothing wrong with a little rockin' out! With my continuing research of their past catalog I think this is a solid release and true fans will dig it.
Please see these tunes live... October 30, 2008
Avid Reader
I think most bands have a hard time following up an album like Plans, especially when the follow-up is a little different in tone and style. When I first got this album, I was expecting something like Plans, even though Gibbard repeatedly said it was more a return to their earlier work. I was disappointed. Then, I saw Death Cab on their current tour, and was reminded of why I love the band in the first place. Now I can appreciate this album for what it is--not a clone of their last album, but a true, old school Death Cab record. If you appreciate Death Cab's past and present, you won't go wrong with this album.
No Plans, but great nonetheless. October 20, 2008
Kim Ingersoll (Sacramento, CA)
It would be very difficult for DCFC to match the greatness of Plans but this new release does not disappoint. I think my favorite track is Your New Twin Sized Bed. It's so sad and beautiful but then again, so are most of these tracks.
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