CD of The Week

Death Cab For Cutie - Codes and Keys (Atlantic)

For a band always striving to reinvent itself, Death Cab for Cutie has certianly created something new with Codes and Keys, their seventh studio album. While portions of certain cuts feel familiar - like the piano in "Some Boys," or the ambient three minute introduction to "Unobstructed Views" - much of Codes and Keys is new sonic territory for fans and listeners.

The evolved songwriting on Codes and Keys reflects changes in the lives of the band members themselves: They've grown up, gotten married, and started families. Most notably, front man and lyricist Ben Gibbard's happy marriage to actress/singer Zooey Deschanel has cast his brooding melancholy behind him and it shows. Codes and Keys is an upbeat experiment in sound.

The album's opening track "Home is a Fire" propels the evolution forward with a fast and driving bass line, but with a chorus that still manages to feel familiar. The title track "Codes and Keys" introduces a new soundscape with vintage piano, sailing violins, and a heavy kickdrum beat. The baseline piano in "Some Boys" takes us back to familiar territory, but not for long when the second verse comes furiously crashing in.

Tracks like "Underneath the Sycamore" and "St. Peter's Cathedral" should make long-time fans feel more comfortable, recalling subtle vibes from Plans and Transatlanticism, respectively. "Monday Morning" and "Stay Young, Go Dancing" will make perfect additions to any carefree summer soundtrack.

Codes and Keys may not fully represent the Death Cab for Cutie that many fans have come to recognize and love, but the album's experimentation sounds more like a celebration of who they were, where they are now, and where they're going in their grown-up future. See Death Cab in Philly this summer on August 5th at The Mann Center.
Review by Bek Henson