Death Cab for Cutie has always been indie rock for the masses, but the band's last full-length album, "Narrow Stairs" (2008), was noticeably darker than most of the music played on pop and alternative radio stations. Luckily, the pale sunlight that is Death Cab's music has returned in "The Open Door EP," which was released on April 14 to fans' open arms.
Though "The Open Door EP" is a collection of the songs that were left off of the full-length "Narrow Stairs," each is fully articulated and heartfelt. The happy, strong harmonies that dominate the album sound more like the glowingly pop-y "Plans" (2005) than "Narrow Stairs." The rhythmic beats in the songs are still very strong, however, in keeping with "Narrow Stairs." Singer Benjamin Gibbard's voice is especially earnest on the EP, but it is clear that these particular songs were cut from "Narrow Stairs" because they simply don't fit in with its dark and more melodic theme.
Of the six songs that make up the EP, two are actually revisited from the full-length album. "Talking Bird (demo)" is an earlier, peppier version of the song that appears on the full-length, while "Grapevine Fires" hasn't changed noticeably since its original release.
The most striking difference between these tracks and those on "Narrow Stairs" is definitely "Talking Bird (demo)." In the "Narrow Stairs" version, the song is four seconds longer and about four times as melancholy. That rendition makes it sound as if the bird is not only stupid, but about to die, whereas the EP completely transforms the song into one about a boy loving a bird who chooses to stay despite an open cage. The addition of a tiny instrument, the ukulele, accomplishes this mighty metamorphosis.
The sunny EP is tainted with a gloomy feeling by "Grapevine Fires." It details the burning of grapevines surrounding a small town and ends without a glimmer of hope. Gibbard sings, "And the firemen worked in double shifts/ With prayers for rain on their lips/ And they knew it was only a matter of time." Every EP needs an artistic downer, and this one comes with an accompanying music video included in every iTunes purchase, which is definitely a bonus.
"Little Bribes," "My Mirror Speaks" and "I Was Once A Loyal Lover" are the songs which will please a wider audience, with their Beatles-esque catchy choruses, easy, clear beats and happy melodies. The themes, which range from clever gambling to fooling around, are much lighter than those addressed on the album and will make for perfect radio fodder. No one should be surprised if the tracks on this EP are adopted by the hipster crowd or if one of them is Death Cab's next big hit.
Finally, "A Diamond and a Tether" will definitely not disappoint, especially for fans who prefer the band's older music. The paradox between easygoing and catchy is resolved by the song with a slower pace and a pleasant attitude. That talent is pure Death Cab and could easily play on college radio stations everywhere.
Overall, "The Open Door EP" is a happy afterthought that will please critics and fans alike. The songs are light and pleasant but still eager and honest, the perfect combination for the alternative genre that Death Cab for Cutie dominates.
