Plans to Change
With such a tough act to follow as Transatlantacism, Death Cab for Cutie had to do some soul searching to produce their newest endeavor and major label debut Plans. Though Plans is stylistically different from its predecessor, it is still just as poignant.Transatlantacism was an album that could be summed up as being climactic. It was bursting with beautiful tracks that crescendoed until they exploded into full-bodied pieces. Plans is almost the antithesis of that. Though sated with superb melodies, most of the tracks are flat and uneventful. This is not necessarily a bad thing. For instance, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” keeps a steady pace and is definitely one of the best songs on the album. Rather than metamorphose it is a simple acoustic guitar with Ben Gibbard’s voice sweetly singing of love and its power. However, it seems as if DCFC did partially try to recreate those pieces that swelled and burst. In tracks like “Different Names for the Same Thing” there is a build up that plateaus instead of climaxing.
Plans is also more of a pop album. The most radio-ready song “Soul Meets Body” is pop in nature though the lyrics and melody still stay within the parameters that DCFC previously set for themselves. This is a song sure to see a lot of air time and influence other bands in their genre.
In summation, Plans is an album worthy of critical acclaim. Even though it does not follow the format of previous DCFC records, it shows that the band is able to change with the times adapting their style for the public they seek to impress.
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