Soul Meets Body: The Story of Death Cab for Cutie

In this week's video, I discuss the career of indie rock legends, Death Cab for Cutie. Led by Ben Gibbard, the group began in Bellingham, Washington in 1997 as a solo project. Chris Walla, Nick Harmer and Nathan Good would join soon later and thus, Death Cab was born. With 9 studio albums, including classics such as Transatlanticism (2003) and Plans (2005), this is the story of Death Cab for Cutie. A band that continues to amaze 25 years deep into their journey.
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#DeathCabForCutie

[@arisyn]

It's really hard to describe the impact this band has had on my life. Ben Gibbard is one of the musical geniuses of our day.

[@aminavGM]

And the zenith was that scene of six feet under

[@JL0ndon]

@@aminavGM omg that scene broke me

[@brokenacoustic]

In 2009 I was working some dead end job, and one of my co-workers asked if I had heard the band Death Cab For Cutie. I laughed and said, no, what a dumb name. He then laughed at me and handed me the album Plans and said, just listen to it. I put it on that night when I got home and it blew my socks off. Then I learned the band name was a reference in relation to The Beatles, my favorite band, and suddenly I was in love. My only regret is not having found them sooner, but I still thank my old co-worker now and then for introducing them to me.

[@kaseythompson5295]

Nothing will ever beat Transatlanticism, but I have nothing but love for Death Cab as a whole. Saw them after 15 years for the first time last October, and literally cried because it was such a meaningful moment in my life.

[@TheBlackLotus]

Just went to see them play Transatlanticism in its entirety a few days ago… really brought me back to why this band matters so much.

[@jamescockayne9794]

Probably the band that got me into music, properly. Great video.

[@joeyrasmussen8394]

Me too

[@RendraHehuwat]

Same..

[@stevenangel8235]

I've been a huge Death Cab fan literally since I could remember lyrics and grew up with Plans and Transatlanticism always playing, that said I genuinely don’t get the backlash to Codes and Keys. I freakin love it

[@Mattwest1985]

Codes and Keys is a great album to me too!

[@ThatFuckinGame]

I love it too, which talks about the quality of DCFC, its at this point, nitpicking the quality against his other works. its still great regardless, most of the albums after narrow stairs have been criticized and I understand, But honestly, Kintsugi its my second favorite album from death cab, Thank You For Today has sick tunes and atsmosphere and codes and Keys its one of the most catchy albums I have ever listened and its a great listen. yes, the classics, for example plans its by far my favorite album from them and they are definitely more memorable, but that doesn´t mean the others are not such worthy listens as well.

[@Podus81]

Codes & Keys is 9.0 album.

[@Driver8takeabreak]

It's just such a departure from the stripped down indie that they were known for. When the sad, emotional band goes more pop and electronic sounding I'm not surprised that lost a lot of fans (I'm one of them).

[@skakirask]

I mostly agree with the video's assessment of C&K. The first half is good but I think it's mostly meh the rest of the way.

[@Mattwest1985]

I was sitting in Wal Mart parking lot once and was in a real shitty spot in life, I lost my girl of 10 years at the time and was hooked on all kinds of drugs but I turned on the radio station and marching bands of manhattan was playing. I heard that line “Sorrow drips into your heart through a pinhole, just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound…..” It hit me so hard I never heard something like it and thankfully the station said “death cab for cutie!” So I was like YES! I went straight into Wal Mart and bought their Plans album! And I’ve been a huge fan ever since! That album practically got me through the hard times and I’m thankful for artists like Ben. I feel like I’m the only person who likes them in Texas tho! I show them to people and they’re like 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@ScienceBasedFitness]

That's a crazy store! I'm glad you found them. They definitely helped me through some hard times as well!

[@thisisnightshop2037]

I’m from Texas and I love death cab

[@anthonypetrelli]

I feel the same way, from Cape Girardeau, MO

[@irogt]

I walked into a friend's room and the district sleeps alone tonight was playing. I became obsessed with the give up album. This was October 2006. January 2007, I walked into the same friend room and marching bands was playing. I've never been the same. I literally lost my mind. God bless Death Cab.

[@queerantine69]

That's actually the same song that got me hooked and out of a bad place after I was suspended from school

[@brewmew]

I live in Bham and go to the same school Ben went to... walking around campus listening to dc4c is sooo strange knowing they were here too

[@nicholaslipanovich827]

Love that the bassist has a Botch hoodie on in one of the pictures

[@burnthisghost]

Death Cab were there in my formative years, will always love them

[@Driver8takeabreak]

A Movie Script Ending is actually about Bellingham.

[@mariea3545]

It is. The shops on Holly and the railroad 😭💚

[@inphanta]

Excellent summary... I can't believe it's been 25 years! I first got into these after hearing tracks from 'We Have the Facts' and liking what I heard and have been a huge fan ever since, collecting everything I can by them. That said, I do think that 'Codes and Keys' gets a bad rap. For one thing, the "electronic" elements are usually overblown by people; to my mind, we're talking about a few electronic flourishes throughout (and nothing not heard before on previous albums) and two entirely synth-driven songs, but the rest sounds like the usual Death Cab fare to me. Listening to the way some people talk about the electronic sprinkles on this album, you'd the band went full Kid A or something. I'd like to think people will one day look back on 'Codes' and remember it more fondly. My favourite has to be "We Have the Facts" though. It's never ever been better than this.

[@joeyrasmussen8394]

Codes and keys is what got me into death cab lol

[@Craig_KCfan]

Thank you for doing this video I am just getting into the band and this was a killer introduction for me🤘🏻

[@ToastbackWhale]

You did Kintsugi dirty IMO. No mention of Ghosts of Beverly Drive or No Room in Frame, dismissing El Dorado, mentioning at all Hold No Guns as if “I Will Follow You Into the Dark 2” needed to even exist… We clearly have every different relationships with that album haha.

[@paceywhitefishing2196]

THANK YOU, someone had to say it. overall good video.

[@bobbendesky3851]

Ghosts of Beverly a great song and has a guitar sound reminiscent of new order and joy division, which makes it even more special in my book

[@jamiebsings]

I love El Dorado, maybe the best song on the album for me. Also I really like Good Help, fascinating how we all have different experiences of the same album

[@WatherFlower]

I read something about Ben's opinion. He considered "The photo album" as their worst lp, in terms of creativity, while "codes and keys" has some bad memories associated - I guess being happily married and not prepared to the divorce. Imho the experiments made with "Codes and keys" were subjected to a new possible era in Ben's life, which never came. I became their fan during that period and I remember I didn't like that lp so much, I preferred the older ones. Lately, like last year, I found myself appreciating the short parenthesis of "Codes and keys". It's amazing how music can have different impacts related to different times of your life. P. s. Sorry about eventual mistakes, I don't often have the chance to write in English. And thank you for the video!

[@pennyflyer1946]

You laid their timeline out beautifully! They are my favorite band and this was very informative 😁

[@kmb807]

This was incredible! Thank you for putting this together!

[@IlluminatingNight]

Longtime DCFC fan. I've seen them 10 times in concert. I've considered them my favorite band for over 12 years. I instantly loved albums like You Can Play These Songs, We Have the Facts, Photo Album, Plans, Transatlanticism, etc. But Codes and Keys took a little while to grow on me. I would place that with the other abums now, as different as it is. I still dislike Kintsugi, but Thank You For Today was much better.

[@MrManuelEltoro]

Couldn't agree more with your rating of Codes and Keys, Kintsugi and Thank you for Today. Codes and Keys just needs some time, it's much better than it's reputation. Asphalt Meadows didn't click immediately with me until I saw the songs live and the energy they can transmit. Since then I like the record much more.

[@kenobeanz5834]

This was an awesome video! Loved how you went through so many of the songs and gave them a moment and a nod. This was recommended to me after the premiere of their new song today. So hope that gives you a lot of traffic. 💕 going to go through your other videos, hoping some of my other favorite bands have been done.

[@LifeFluid]

This video was amazing. Death Cab is one of my favorite bands. Thanks for this!

[@ScienceBasedFitness]

My absolute favorite band! Thanks for this video!!!!

[@annabellehershelman]

thank you for making this video! love this band 💌

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

You should do a video on Pinback or even Rob Crow.

[@sierracarroll7330]

YES!

[@ericdavidwallace]

Excellent video. So informative this helped me so much. One of my all Time favorite bands. Thank you for making this.

[@Jacksmusicshack]

Plans was the first album i got into of them... Amazing album. Everyone i was in school with years ago hated that band idk why...🤷🏻 They're amazing! I'm normally a hardcore music guy and they just make things unique.

[@kaleywoods7157]

I didn't know a lot of this! Thank you for making it ☺☺

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Thanks for all the effort you put into this video. I have subscribed, now gonna watch your video on Brand New... I learnt a lot in this video, as My interest in Death Cab had faded but I was switched back into them with Thankyou For Today... after a few listens I fell in love with that album, but it took me more listens to get into Asphalt Meadows... but now I’ve seen them play as part of that tour, and listened a whole heap more, I can see that some of the tracks from Asphalt Meadows are almost as good as their very best. But you’ll never beat the tracks ‘trasatlanticism’ and ‘marching bands of Manhattan’ - for me at least.

[@earlyinternetmusic]

Thanks for putting this together, really enjoyed it! Miss the Walla days, but I will always be a fan of this band. Can’t wait for the Death Cab / Postal Service 20th anniversary tour this fall. Got my tickets for Seattle ❤

[@quinrosee]

i’m going to one of the berkeley shows!!!! i’m so excited, less than 20 days for me 😆

[@MourningCoffeeMusic]

Solid video ! Much needed. These nights, I don’t know how to survive.

[@dellieborton]

Love it!! Great video 😉

[@Narcotiqs]

Great work, thank you. Great band 💯

[@averykristian]

lol awesome to see old videos of Ben dancing. It's never been any different and it should never change.

[@NESADDICT]

I love this review. Prompted me to pick up the earlier CDs that I never heard before photo album. Big fan of no joy in Mudville

[@codywritesongs]

Thank you for this video!!!

[@madamedutchess]

Nice video. Not too many like this given how long the band has been around and how popular they have been in the scene.

[@CatchingStarlight]

death cab for cutie got me through a lot of the hard parts of my life, and also introduced me to my all time favorite band, frightened rabbit, way back in 2011 when i saw dcfc in concert for the first time. fr opened for them, and i was instantly hooked. ben's dedication to scott in thank you for today was such a sweet gesture. rip scott hutchison. i agree with a lot of your opinions and reviews. i do think dcfc's sound has been lackluster as of late, but i still think ben's lyrics can punch you where it hurts. i was blown away by foxglove through the clearcut from their newest album, asphalt meadows. my all time favorite album of theirs is probably transatlanticism simply because of the memories i have tied to the album, though something about airplanes and narrow stairs are close seconds.

[@chris_troiano]

Why did it take a year for the algorithm to bring this to me? Edit: year and a half

[@TheMusicNarrative]

Not sure. Glad you found it though! Watched your Harvey Danger video and think it was really well done. You should make more stuff in that vein

[@chris_troiano]

@@TheMusicNarrative 😃I have very narrow interests so story-focused dives into a very particular subgenre of Seattle indie are right up my alley. And thanks for the encouragement. I don’t expect to be a particularly productive creator, but I have a few ideas.

[@TheMusicNarrative]

@@chris_troiano No problem! Cover what you’re passionate about, that’s the most important thing. And as for having narrow interests, that could actually work in your favor! Settle on a niche and the people who are interested will gravitate toward it. Based on what you put out so far, there’s a lot of potential there

[@chris_troiano]

@@TheMusicNarrative Sure! I’d just mentioned the narrow interest as a way to say that a DCfC career narrative intersects for me.

[@henri-laurentchezeaud1484]

What a massive job you've done. That's what music critisim should be. Thank you.

[@dommyg1196]

Great video! One of my favorite bands. Maybe do a Shins video or TDCC next? I’d watch those for sure. Keep up the good work.

[@FellDestroyedMusic]

Favorite band

[@mvonwalter6927]

Recorded at Hall of Justice in the early days just meant wherever Walla dragged his recording junk.

[@silver2therescue1]

and since this video was made before the album came out, their newest album is called Asphalt Meadows and returns to a more early Death Cab vibe with some of their modern style mixed in

[@lmenahan]

This was a great video, and while I respectfully disagreed with some of your album assessments, 🙃I think you did a wonderful job telling the band's story to someone who didn't know much at all about them other than the music! Nice work, my friend!

[@annerison]

Ok, now I want to hear you talk about their new album. Asphalt Meadows is really good. Just saw them perform in MPLS.

[@TheMusicNarrative]

Well I’ll say this, since I might not make a video on it. I think Foxglove Through the Clearcut is one of the best songs Death Cab has made in like 15 years. The semi spoken-word style just works so well. The opening track is pretty great too. Definitely a solid album

[@annerison]

@@TheMusicNarrative I agree with you on both points. I'm happy to see that they are still putting out such good music.

[@orangelazarus6056]

WALLA OR BUST, BAYBEEE! Also, I’m pretty sure the Hall of Justice didn’t come into the picture until The Photo Album.

[@MaTTheWish]

This kid did his research. Respect..

[@shanehamilton1753]

Listen to them daily top 3 in my favs right now

[@chuckfink8239]

Wonderful video. Glad I stumbled onto this. Subscribed. Love to hear your thoughts on Asphalt Meadows. I think it’s one of their best.

[@ianjackson3441]

love that one of the members is wearing a Botch shirt

[@aazreaal]

Dude you did death cab too? Wtf you're the best

[@riccardod.1105]

As a superfan I like Codes and Keys as much as other albums (The Photo Album being my favorite). But this is a great video about a great band. So "fuck you and I'll see you tomorrow" (cit).

[@myflatlineconstruct]

I was kinda board of goth industrial at the time. I found death cab and was filled with warm and fuzzys. I spun out to find interpole, Keane, snow patrol.

[@averykristian]

crazy. I loved codes and keys. guess I'm not so critical? I loved the love for a woman that was in it. I know that didn't end well, but Ben was happy

[@onehorsetown3434]

Always liked Revolutionary Hydra- Ratcheting Down the Melancholic Afterbeat; A Novel I think I listened to that more than death cab.

[@Walrus286]

Built to Spill for people who haven’t heard of built to spill

[@silverlink8805]

I personally don't mind Hold No Guns but saying it's a highlight of Kintsugi would make most DCFC fans absolutely lose it

[@wshutson0304]

My DCFC album rankings: 1) Plans 2) Transatlantism 3) Narrow Stairs 4) Codes & Keys 5) Forbidden Love EP 6) The Photo Album 7) Thank You for Today 8) We Have the Facts… 9) Kintsugi 10) The Georgia EP 11) The Blue EP **Awaiting the drop on Asphalt Meadows on 9/16/2022**

[@jovanreid6782]

Where is Something About Airplanes? Also, I think We Have the Facts is way too low, but that's because it's #1 on my list, with Transatlanticism second, Plans third, then Somthing About Airplanes, then The Photo Album, then Narrow Stairs. Thank Youb for Today would come in last for me.

[@mattmarkus4868]

11:50 I cannot believe you "closed out" Transatlanticism without even mentioning they looked like giants, probably my favorite. I had to rewind and check again. You went from decorator to the closer, skipping over it as if it's not even there. I don't get it, it's such a good tune.

[@veerodgers1042]

My fav

[@timk4829]

I wouldn't call CODES & KEYS the black sheep of their catalogue. Quite the opposite. By incorporating string arrangements in most of the songs they really progressed as a band in terms of their signature sound.

[@sneakydingus4343]

i would say screw u shawn but this was a lusciously sticky lick of a production, well done sir, i wish u had more gud things to say about my favorite record and sogn) codes and keys 👍 well wishes for ur shawnening jounrey !

[@markerworld5912]

Codes and Keys is a great album! Damnit! Better than Kintsugi and I really like Kintsugi. So there. DCFC forever! Good video Thanks.

[@Shichman]

I fell in love with We Have The Facts when it was released, but Plans is their best album imo.

[@jodimichelleschoenherr]

💘🚕for Moshe 💯❤️🎧🖌️🎨🖼️

[@sneakydingus4343]

i would say screw u shawn but this was a lusciously sticky lick of a production, well done sir, i wish u had more gud things to say about my favorite record and sogn) codes and keys 👍 well wishes for ur shawnening jounrey ! also near/far is a good song and um i think ghat upu sjpulf watch soos freakin jt

[@devoured1]

now they went and dropped Asphalt Meadows which is 🔥🔥🔥

[@zenfuNktion]

Cobain said that this one of his favorite bands, how could he have said that if they were formed years after his death?

[@kai326]

Did you read this or hear him say it? Cos if you read it you know anyone could’ve just put quotes around it and say those were Kurt’s words

[@aspie-anarchist9854]

I know deathcab is kind of a joke or way too mainstream for punk and indie fans. But omg their very early early stuff is amazing. I remember I showed my friend who hates them, prove my hypothesis, and he was like woah this is like real emo or skramz almost! We have the facts is an indie/emo masterpiece in my opinion. I like it better than airplanes. It leans way closer to sunny day and promise day or contemporaries like empire empire I was a lonely estate than it does modest mouse and built to spill. Actually it's almost sadcore. It reminds me of carissas weird. Company calls epilogue is one of the best songs ever. But honestly they just go downhill after that.

[@jovanreid6782]

Death Cab has never been emo I wish people would stop trying to box them in that way they're so much bigger and better than that.

[@aspie-anarchist9854]

@@jovanreid6782 sorry you are offended by the idea that a band had roots in emocore. But you clearly don't know what emo is. It's not the used, Hawthorne heights or mcr. Go listen to mineral, the promise ring, American football or Texas is the reason then listen to we have the facts.

[@jovanreid6782]

@@aspie-anarchist9854 I don't get hung up on genres like that. I just like good music. And Death Cab for Cutie has never cared for aligning themselves with any camp, because they were just about making music; they'd cite John Coltrane as an influence far before any band you just mentioned, if they even know anything about those bands at all. So yeah, calling me emo boy is highly offensive but even more so absent-minded as I could never approach my love for music in such a superficial fashion.

[@bmoneyrancidfan91]

Modest mouse and death cab for life

[@DonDurrett]

This guy didn't like Codes & Keys or Kintsugi. I think both are fantastic. Here is my playlist: Transaltanticisim: All Plans: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 Narrow Stairs: 1,2,4,6,9,10 Codes & Keys: 1,2,4,6,7,8,10,11 Kintsugi: 1,2,4,5,7,10,11 Thank You for Today: 3,5,6,7,8,10 Blue EP: 1,3,4,5 Georgia EP: 4,5 Asphalt Meadows: 4,5,7,8,10

[@holloify_tensa_zangetsu]

Death cab for Cuties is Brilliant, but due to the raise of pop punk which turned into Emo. Death cab got lumped into the scene(in my head) I started playing music in 00's and was a music nerd loving music pre 2000s. Emo sucked the life out for me. Sad to say I wrote them off as well as silversun pickup But I'm glad I started liking them

[@badmonkey2222]

They've never sounded the same since Chris left I just basically had to just look at them as a totally different band that's how important he was to their sound and songwriting, it's taken some time for their newer stuff without Chris to grow on me but it's still not the same. Of course I'm still a fan as I have been since their inception and just hold out hope Chris will eventually come back.

[@emmojo3428]

I feel the same way, I couldn't get into anything after Narrow Stairs. I didn't realize how intregal he was until he was gone

[@OysterBoyo]

When a Carissa's Wierd video? I need some love for the best slowcore/indie/unique band ever.

[@majordog2399]

No mention of the bonzo dog band they took their name from.

[@johnnyappleseed4492]

I guess I’m a hack. The only songs I really like by death cab are, tiny vessels, title and registration, transatlanticism, your new twin size bed, lack of color, grapevine fires, ice was getting thinner, I will follow you into the dark, and a few others but none of the songs prior to those named.

[@tylerbenjamin328]

Those are all my faves too! 😊

[@xosenogueira6259]

So am I the only one who thinks that Walla’s departure was a mammoth loss and ever since the band has never once matched the same level of refinement and creativity in the slightest bit? I mean, there are some good tracks on Kintsugi, but I couldn’t even make it to the closing song on Thank You for Today. I’ve just checked “Here to Forever”, the new single (2022). It’s super fun to watch but it could easily pass for a b-side of anything on Codes and Keys. Instantly forgettable. And say any of the 2 newcomers “fill the void of Chris Walla effectively”… What kind of madness is that?

[@BirdsOfGlass]

Eureka farm & shed is better. Strange that neither get mentioned seeing as early Ben & early DCFC are just bland Carbon copies of Arman Bohn & shed.

[@peepy9115]

BRO U DIDNT MENTION WHATS UP MAGAZINE THAT MAGAZINE WAS CRUCIAL TO DCFC'S POPULARITY

[@Cityboy.84____________________]

Story of WEEDEATER

[@Cityboy.84____________________]

@Your Uncle's Mailmam I know, My dam string keep breaking! Also I don't mind getting cancer frm inhaling it.

[@Cityboy.84____________________]

I love the smell

[@Cityboy.84____________________]

@Your Uncle's Mailmam the smell that's around me....

[@Cityboy.84____________________]

@Your Uncle's Mailmam Long live dirt WEED!!!!

[@alrightsquinky7798]

Strange. I think Codes and Keys is far, far better than anything Death Cab has put out since then. That being said, I like all their albums. I’ve been a fan for 20 years, but I saw Codes and Keys as the real cut-off point for Death Cab’s authenticity. Everything they’ve put out since then has sounded like, well, a tribute, or something. They sound like they’re trying to please the fans, and it all sounds so cheap in comparison to what came before. There’s no edge anymore. It’s all so safe and simple.

[@TheGypsysoup]

L take on codes and keys

[@Luschan]

As a snobby young adult, after Ben married/divorced Zooey Deschanel, I couldn’t take his songs as seriously.

[@trifeloco]

I've been a fan since Airplanes and it's been an interesting journey as a fan following your favorite band. DC literally has matured with us fans and after hard work they finally made it big. There's always a "but" though with fans like me (just an opinion). Their major label signing obviously influenced the change in their sound from the early days. You now have to create radio friendly sounds and appeal to a much broader mainstream audience. Throughout the years (especially with the departure of Chris Walla) Death Cab's creativity took many turns and while enthusiastic at trying new things, I think by this point they're almost running out of steam. I admit I'm being very biased due to the nostalgia of the indie rock sounds from the late 90s and early 2000s and especially Death Cab's signature sound from their early days. Realistically if music is going to be your career and your bread and butter, you have to change with the times. I'm glad that they now have commercial success non the less, but the truth is most of their current fan base is one that developed after Plans, unless those fans take a moment to experience their 1st four albums, they'll never truly experience DCFC's true artistic peak. Over production and ultimately watered down lyrics is what DC is today. Ben hasn't written anything that truly sets him apart from what anyone else is writing today. They used to have a sound that really defined them as a band, nowadays they have blended in with every other commercially successful pop bands. Don't get me wrong, they still make good music, but for many of us that were there before the commercial success, they just lost it and lost themselves. Gibbard now writes mediocre material at best and even he himself has admitted to half ass writing. And that's the word I'm using to describe their latest album Asphalt Meadows. Probably the last DCFC album I'll ever purchase. Again, there are a couple highlight moments but overall lack luster. They'll never make another Transatlanticism that's for sure. I leave you with this last statement: the song "I'll Never Give Up On You"... What the hell is that?!

[@TheMusicNarrative]

Honestly, I agree with you. The first four records by the band showcase their raw talent and creative vision. It was there right from the start. Not to say they started to suck after that, though. Plans is a great record along with Narrow Stairs. But I can say in the stuff they’ve put out since then, something is definitely missing. The inspiration, the youthful rebellion, I’m not exactly sure what. But from Codes and Keys onward, I have a harder and harder time connecting to their music. I love choice cuts here and there and the recent albums aren’t bad by any stretch. But an essential element is missing. This shift began before Chris Walla left. So I don’t know if I can say that’s the sole reason they aren’t as good anymore. But I can say Death Cab have been playing it safe for a while now. Their newer stuff isn’t bad, but I don’t come back to it often. I will say Foxglove Through the Clearcut is the best song the band has put out in forever. But the singles from Asphalt Meadows were aggressively mediocre which is unfortunate.