By JOSEPH BARRACATO
Posted: 2:57 am
October 5, 2008
DEATH Cab for Cutie marked its 10th anniversary as a band with a career milestone: the group's sixth studio album, "Narrow Stairs," which became its first to top the Billboard 200 album chart this summer.
For the new record, the Bellingham, Wash., quartet - previously known for writing lush pop songs reeking of sensitivity - sought to replicate the raw, more aggressive sound of its live performances.
As the band gets set to rock the House of Blues in Atlantic City tonight and Radio City Music Hall tomorrow, lead singer and guitarist Ben Gibbard chatted with us about the group's first No.1 album, Mother Nature and coping with the chaos of Gotham.
Studio changes. "The sessions were very different this time around. In the past, everything was so constructed and calculated. We wanted to stay away from that. At first, it was a bit uncomfortable - we were all sitting in a room looking at each other. But eventually we started playing and everything fell into place."
Uncharted waters. "Hitting No. 1 is a bit surreal for us. I mean, the band spent seven years in relative obscurity until our last record, 'Plans,' received so much attention. It's just wild right now, and we're trying to enjoy it."
Solo projects. "During our eight-month break following 'Plans,' everyone did their own thing. [Drummer Jason] McGerr built his own studio, which we recorded a lot of the new album in. [Guitarist Chris] Walla released a solo album. And [bassist Nick] Harmer worked on a few projects, too. So I figured, what the hell, and went on a small solo tour with friends. But I did do a lot of writing for 'Narrow Stairs' during that time."
Stormy weather. "We were ambitious when we planned the tour by making over 90 percent of it outside - but it's been tough. There were some torrential downpours in the Midwest and some cold 40-degree nights."
Gotham jitters. "Manhattan overwhelmed us the first few times we came, but I think we've gotten in sync with it. We have some friends there, and we know what bars we want to drink at and which record stores we want to shop at. We really love it there."
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