Death Cab began as a solo project of Ben Gibbard, now the band's vocalist and guitarist. Gibbard took the band name from the satirical song Death Cab for Cutie, performed by The Bonzo Dog Band in The Beatles' 1967 experimental film Magical Mystery Tour. As Death Cab for Cutie, Gibbard released a cassette titled You Can Play These Songs with Chords; the release was surprisingly successful, and Gibbard decided to expand the band into a complete project. He recruited Chris Walla (who had also worked on the cassette) as an electric guitarist, Nick Harmer as bass guitarist, and Nathan Good to play drums.
The four released the LP Something About Airplanes on August 18th 1998. The album was favorably reviewed in the independent music scene, and in 2000 the band released We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes. Nathan Good left the band at some point during this album's production. His playing on “The Employment Pages” and “Company Calls Epilogue” were kept, but Gibbard played drums on all other songs.
Michael Schorr would first appear on The Forbidden Love E.P., released on October 24, 2000. In 2001, another LP was released, entitled The Photo Album. Limited editions of this album contained three bonus tracks, which were later released separately as The Stability EP.
In 2003, there was another change of drummer, with Jason McGerr of Eureka Farm replacing Schorr. McGerr would play drums on the next release, Transatlanticism.
Transatlanticism was released in October of 2003. It received critical praise and also became the band's top-selling album, with 225,000 copies sold during its first year out.
In spring of 2004, the band recorded a live E.P. titled The John Byrd E.P., named for their sound engineer. The E.P. was released on Barsuk Records in March 2004.
In November of 2004, Death Cab for Cutie signed a “long-term worldwide deal” with Atlantic Records, leaving their long-time label Barsuk Records. Gibbard stated on the official website www.deathcabforcutie.com that nothing would change except that “Next to the picture of Barsuk holding a 7", there will be the letter "A" on both the spine and back of our upcoming albums.” This was a marked change from Gibbard's earlier views on major-label relations, which he said “are set up to fuck you and take all your money.”. After signing to Atlantic, the band was still nervous about corporate economics, and encouraged fans to download its songs from the Internet.
The first and second singles off the band's Atlantic Record release Plans were “Soul Meets Body” and “Crooked Teeth”, respectively. The full album was released in August of 2005. Plans was somewhat well-acclaimed by critics and fans, and received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album of 2005. It achieved Gold Status in 2006 after charting on Billboard for 47 consecutive weeks.
The band released a touring DVD titled Drive Well, Sleep Carefully in 2005. Known for their contributions to animal rights, the band is supporting the activist group PETA in giving away copies of the DVD to promote animal rights.
In early 2006, the band announced the upcoming release of Directions, eleven short films inspired by songs from the Plans album, each directed by a different person. The videos were posted one at a time at the band's website and the DVD went on sale April 11, 2006.
On May 12, 2008 their album, Narrow Stairs, was released and was well received by both critics and fans. It was their first album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200. The album contains the singles "I Will Possess Your Heart", "Cath..." and "Grapevine Fires".
The band's latest released The Open Door EP, which was released on March 31, 2009. Their main styles consist of slow progressive rock with dark lyrics.
The band's seventh album, Codes and Keys, was released on May 31, 2011. The album's first single was "You Are A Tourist".
On October 11, 2013, the band reportedly began working on their eighth studio album. This was then confirmed by the group's official Instagram profile in which an image was uploaded with the caption "DCFC LP8 begins". The new album will be produced by Rich Costey and is expected to be released in early 2015. In an interview with Stereogum, Gibbard said of the new album, "I do think from start to finish it's a much better record than Codes And Keys. If that record turned anybody off, I feel pretty strongly that this one could win them back. There are threads in this one that connect back to our earliest stuff that people love." On October 29, 2013, the band released a remastered tenth-anniversary version of their 2003 album Transatlanticism. The new album included a vinyl LP and MP3 download, with demos for all the songs from the album.
As part of the 2014 Record Store Day, the band released its first live album, a vinyl-only double LP recorded during various 2012 tour dates with Magik*Magik Orchestra. Included within the packaging was a code for a digital download of the recording.
On August 13, 2014, after 17 years as a member of Death Cab for Cutie, guitarist and songwriter Chris Walla decided to part ways with the band, with his last performance occurring on September 13, 2014 at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia. Walla states that he plans to "...continue making music, producing records, and erring on the side of benevolence and beauty whenever possible." When asked in an interview about Walla's involvement in the eighth album, McGerr confirmed that Walla "played on everything and has been involved all the way through, even in the mixing. Even though he's played his last show with us, he's still been involved in everything involving this record."
Gridlock Caravans
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feed dilusions that everything is working out right,
But your ribs can't withstand increasing weight
As your heart gets heavier and sooner or later,
It falls to the tips of your toes.
And every day tastes like inhaling
When you just lit the wrong end (that plastic burning scent).
You try to ask how they've been,
But the metal and glass is too thick.
The lyrics to "Gridlock Caravans" by Death Cab for Cutie are a poignant commentary on the alienation and isolation of modern life. The opening lines describe the superficial trappings of success - starched white shirts neatly pressed by domestic muses. These provide the illusion that everything is working out right, but the weight of reality soon becomes unbearable. The metaphor of the heart getting heavier is particularly effective, suggesting a physical burden that cannot be escaped. The image of the heart falling to the tips of the toes is a powerful one, suggesting a total collapse of the self.
The second verse continues this theme of suffocation and emotional claustrophobia. The line "every day tastes like inhaling" is a vivid description of the struggle just to breathe, and the mention of the "plastic burning scent" adds to the sense of suffocation. The only "friends" available are other commuters stuck in traffic, but even they are out of reach. The metaphor of the "metal and glass" separating people is a powerful one, suggesting a deep existential loneliness that cannot be bridged. The song ends on a note of despair, describing the impossibility of communication in the modern world.
Overall, "Gridlock Caravans" is a bleak but powerful comment on the human condition in the modern world. The lyrics are filled with vivid images and metaphors that capture the sense of suffocation and despair that many people feel in their daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Starched white shirts, so neatly pressed by domestic muses
Society expects you to present yourself as perfect, like a clean and well-pressed white shirt that has been taken care of by a homemaker.
Feed dilutions that everything is working out right,
People tell you that things are going well and act like everything is fine, but these are empty words that hide the truth.
But your ribs can't withstand increasing weight
As the weight of your problems and stress increase, they put a physical strain on your body.
As your heart gets heavier and sooner or later,
The emotional weight you carry becomes a burden that gets heavier and heavier over time.
It falls to the tips of your toes.
Eventually, the weight of your burdens becomes so overwhelming that you can physically feel it weighing you down.
And every day tastes like inhaling
Every day feels like a struggle, like trying to breathe in air that is polluted or toxic.
When you just lit the wrong end (that plastic burning scent).
It feels like you've made a big mistake, like when you accidentally light the wrong end of a cigarette and inhale the burning plastic fumes.
Your only friends are on the exit ramps of gridlock caravans.
You feel isolated and alone, and the only people you can talk to or relate to are strangers stuck in traffic with you.
You try to ask how they've been,
You want to reach out and connect with others, but it's difficult because there are barriers in the way.
But the metal and glass is too thick.
The walls between people are too strong, and it's hard to break them down and connect on a deeper level.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BENJAMIN GIBBARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
isabel
This song just so happens to be on my vinyl copy of The Photo Album. Definitely a pleasant surprise as I'd never even heard of the song before purchasing the album!
Nicholas Reel
Would it be possible to ask where you got this? I'd love to have just the one vinyl rather than both a japanese import cd and the vinyl.
Paolo Mitchem
I cry every time I listen to this, reminds me of the good old days
Aditya Mishra
"If it's true that music of this nature doesn't get any more heartfelt, it also rarely get's more infectious"
Melty_wave
Im so glad never heard the DCFC song before. I feel like it's all new again
Professor Chomsky
For me it's one of their best songs - very short but very bittersweet and very brilliant x
young machines
Can someone please upload “Slow and Steady Wins the Race” by Pedro the Lion featuring Ben Gibbard. It was released as a Japanese exclusive and I can’t find it anywhere.
DJA Gaming 2
@young machines Thank you!
young machines
@DJA Gaming 2 haha thanks man! hope you’re doing fine as well 👊
DJA Gaming 2
Hey Young Machines! I recognized your channel from Ben Gibbard Stephen Colbert, The Postal Service Stephen Colbert, and the Death Cab golf. Hope all is well!