brian, was this possibly on the Death & Dismemberment Tour (Death Cab and The Dismemberment Plan)? I saw them together on that tour and it was amazing. DCFC closed with this song. Chills.
Good god, I wish I had heard of them back then. I love their new stuff too, but I really would love to hear this stuff live. I wish they would just do a huge 3 hour concert a la 311 and play all of these old songs too!! AHHH
I think ever since they signed to Atlantic they've felt pressured to try and make music that appeals to the mainstream, whereas as a real indie band they could just do what they want without having to worry about a contract
ahhh. old death cab. I didn't get to see them until transatlanticism came out.. they don't really play the old stuff anymore either. makes me sad. the video's you have are awesome. some of my favorite dcfc songs YO.
All this talk about the "natural order". They're still awesome today, even better. Ben's songwriting has gotten better with every album, and Chris has become one of the greatest producers of our generation. You guys always say that they sold out. Too many people like them. But more people like them because they've gotten better: a better drummer (Jason Mcgerr is a pro.), better songs, better production. I say these guys have worked like crazy, and they deserve every ounce of success they get.
Sure, many more people like them today, but they have much less discerning tastes in music. I'm sure death cab took a greater satisfaction coming out on stage to a small crowd of cheering indie snobs rather than an arena full of screaming 13 year old girls. That's not necessarily the mark of success an artist is looking for. ask yourself, is the death cab of 2008 capable of writing another "company calls" I don't think so.
I don't know if that's true. They were poor when they played for the "small crowd of cheering indie snobs". I don't think they care who's listening to them, as long as someone is. Ben Gibbard's talked about his old songs. He doesn't like them nearly as much, and he says it's because lyrically, they weren't as good. "Brothers On a Hotel Bed" or "Grapevine Fires" are on a totally different level. Why go back to "Company Calls"? I think they view success as just still being proud of their work.
Plus, you have to admire that they haven't forgotten about the old days, and they're just as personable as they were back then. In that sense, they haven't changed much. They're still the same humble, geeky musicians from Seattle that they've always been.
I'm thinking more about their instrumentation. I don't think ben's lyrics have slipped at all, I just don't find their instrumentation nearly as interesting. I don't begrudge them their success. I admire the way they've earned it, through real genuine talent and how they stuck with Barsuk. I just think from start to finish, their best work was contained in their earlier albums and the more of an audience you have is not a barometer of how good your art is.
...take jazz for example. That is the music i respect the most for how difficult it is to write, play and appreciate yet nobody listens to it. My theory is that music should not sound good upon first listen. It should sound interesting so the more you listen to it, the more you hear the layers and the hooks coming out. If they are too obvious right away, then there isn't much to explore and it gets played out too soon. Coldplay is a perfect example of that kind of band.
I'm amazed at how similar our opinions on music is. I respect jazz the most as well, and i respect this kind of music too. I think music that grows on you the more you listen to it is the best kind of music there is!
brian, was this possibly on the Death & Dismemberment Tour (Death Cab and The Dismemberment Plan)? I saw them together on that tour and it was amazing. DCFC closed with this song. Chills.
saltysaluter 5 months ago
@saltysaluter I don't think so because I never saw them on that tour. I think this may have been just after.
brianjbean 5 months ago
Good god, I wish I had heard of them back then. I love their new stuff too, but I really would love to hear this stuff live. I wish they would just do a huge 3 hour concert a la 311 and play all of these old songs too!! AHHH
agreen182 7 months ago
I'd kill to hear them play this stuff live. So good, much better then the stuff on Narrow Stairs.
bassnpete22 1 year ago
chris walla looks so young here!!
they all do!!
fadej17 1 year ago
Chris running away @ the end... Classic
Amulius 1 year ago
Aww...Poor Ben's guitar...
ChablesMan 1 year ago
I think that slackersnail guy is totally right. Jason kicks Michael's ass.
...Although, his part on "All is Full of Love" is pretty awesome.
smeh69 1 year ago
I think ever since they signed to Atlantic they've felt pressured to try and make music that appeals to the mainstream, whereas as a real indie band they could just do what they want without having to worry about a contract
pretzelpimp 2 years ago
its got that freaky harmonic minor riff thing, which makes it one of the greatest songs ever.
tayesaluda 2 years ago
ahhh. old death cab. I didn't get to see them until transatlanticism came out.. they don't really play the old stuff anymore either. makes me sad. the video's you have are awesome. some of my favorite dcfc songs YO.
danielfrankstindt 3 years ago
All this talk about the "natural order". They're still awesome today, even better. Ben's songwriting has gotten better with every album, and Chris has become one of the greatest producers of our generation. You guys always say that they sold out. Too many people like them. But more people like them because they've gotten better: a better drummer (Jason Mcgerr is a pro.), better songs, better production. I say these guys have worked like crazy, and they deserve every ounce of success they get.
slackersnail 3 years ago 4
Sure, many more people like them today, but they have much less discerning tastes in music. I'm sure death cab took a greater satisfaction coming out on stage to a small crowd of cheering indie snobs rather than an arena full of screaming 13 year old girls. That's not necessarily the mark of success an artist is looking for. ask yourself, is the death cab of 2008 capable of writing another "company calls" I don't think so.
brianjbean 3 years ago 3
I don't know if that's true. They were poor when they played for the "small crowd of cheering indie snobs". I don't think they care who's listening to them, as long as someone is. Ben Gibbard's talked about his old songs. He doesn't like them nearly as much, and he says it's because lyrically, they weren't as good. "Brothers On a Hotel Bed" or "Grapevine Fires" are on a totally different level. Why go back to "Company Calls"? I think they view success as just still being proud of their work.
slackersnail 3 years ago
Plus, you have to admire that they haven't forgotten about the old days, and they're just as personable as they were back then. In that sense, they haven't changed much. They're still the same humble, geeky musicians from Seattle that they've always been.
slackersnail 3 years ago
I'm thinking more about their instrumentation. I don't think ben's lyrics have slipped at all, I just don't find their instrumentation nearly as interesting. I don't begrudge them their success. I admire the way they've earned it, through real genuine talent and how they stuck with Barsuk. I just think from start to finish, their best work was contained in their earlier albums and the more of an audience you have is not a barometer of how good your art is.
brianjbean 3 years ago
...take jazz for example. That is the music i respect the most for how difficult it is to write, play and appreciate yet nobody listens to it. My theory is that music should not sound good upon first listen. It should sound interesting so the more you listen to it, the more you hear the layers and the hooks coming out. If they are too obvious right away, then there isn't much to explore and it gets played out too soon. Coldplay is a perfect example of that kind of band.
brianjbean 3 years ago 3
I certainly agree with you. I just think that Death Cab has improved instead of slipped.
slackersnail 3 years ago
@brianjbean
I'm amazed at how similar our opinions on music is. I respect jazz the most as well, and i respect this kind of music too. I think music that grows on you the more you listen to it is the best kind of music there is!
Amulius 1 year ago
what's ben doing in the middle? he's always on the left, it's the natural order - this is a good video, though i wish you could hear the vocals more
thebluescreenofdeath 4 years ago
back in the day he was always in the middle, it was the true natural order ;)
brianjbean 4 years ago
N00B.
mojo437 4 years ago