New Death Cab For Cutie - "I Was Once A Loyal Lover" (Stereogum Premiere)

It is Thursday, which means it is The Open Door's Track 4 day. In announcing this new EP, Death Cab said these Narrow Stairs-session songs weren't "castoffs," but simply that they didn't fit the mood and temperament of the LP's 11-song set. True enough, the past three days have proven The Open Door's mood separate from Stairs. But it's been more interesting to hear the band shift gears from song to song within the EP. And "I Was Once A Loyal Lover," the EP's last brand new track (tomorrow's cut is a Gibbard-solo ukulele demo version of "Talking Bird") rounds out the mood-span with a straightforward pop tune given some kitchen sink Death Cab arrangement.

Count the tics: strummed fuzz-box guitars also miked up close for naturally occurring sounds, airy keyboard tones in back, jaunty and distant Spoony pianos set to punchy walking basslines, arty guitars and crashing cymbals. Walla was busy on this one. Meanwhile Ben is worrying about himself vis a vis his buddies: "All my friends are forward thinking / getting hitched and quitting drinking." Don't worry Ben, you're halfway there.

The Open Door EP is available digitally on 3/31, physical release to follow, via Atlantic. You'll be able to buy it on deathcabforcutie.com or pre-order now at iTunes.

The songs:
01 "Little Bribes"
02 "A Diamond And A Tether"
03 "My Mirror Speaks"
04 "I Was Once a Loyal Lover"
05 "Talking Bird" (demo)

The tour dates:
04/05 - Toronto, Ontario @ The Sound Academy
04/07 - Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre *#
04/08 - Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall *#
04/09 - Davidson, NC @ John Belk Arena/Davidson College *#
04/10 - Louisville, KY @ Louisville Palace *#
04/11 - Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre *#
04/12 - Tulsa, OK @ The Brady Theater *#
04/13 - Omaha, NE @ Holland Theatre *
04/15 - St. Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkings Auditorium *#
04/17 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom *#
04/18 - East Lansing, MI @ Breslin Events Center/Michigan State University *#
04/19 - Waukesha, WI @ Van Male Fieldhouse/Carroll College *#
04/22 - Bellingham, WA @ Mount Baker Theatre #
04/24 - Spokane, WA @ McCarthey Athletic Center/Gonzaga University *#
04/25 - Boise, ID @ The Morrison Center *#
04/27 - Sacramento, CA @ Memorial Auditorium *#
04/29 - La Jolla, CA @ RIMAC Arena/UC San Diego *
05/01 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall #!
05/02 - New Orleans, LA @ Contemporary Arts Center !
05/04 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium #!
05/05 - Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall #!
05/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre #!
05/07 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
07/05 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl ^%
07/11 - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre @#
07/14 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre @#
07/16 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Pacific Coliseum %#
07/17 - Troutdale, Oregon @ Edgefield Amphitheatre %#
07/18 - Redmond, WA @ Marymoor Park %#

* with Cold War Kids
# with Ra Ra Riot
! with Matt Costa
^ with Tegan and Sara
% with New Pornographers
@ with Andrew Bird

[Gibbard photo from Death Cab For Cutie @ Coachella '08 by Amrit Singh

Posted at 1:23 PM by amrit
Tags: Ben Gibbard | Chris Walla | Death Cab For Cutie

16 Comments

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BLENDER. done.

Posted by: plan 9 at 03/26/09 1:40 PM | Reply
Score = -1

Now this is more like it! This was surprisingly charming, fierce, energetic and just generally refreshing! This is exactly the kind of spark Narrow Stairs needed.

Posted by: Kasper at 03/26/09 2:23 PM | Reply
Score = 5

I love this one! I agree with Kasper, this is what I was looking for more of in Narrow Stairs. This is definitely my favorite of the 3 tracks that have been premiered.

Posted by: PlayRadioPlay! at 03/26/09 2:57 PM | Reply
Score = 3

Dang, these tracks are definitely killing. Make this the sound of your next album plz.

Posted by: Curt at 03/26/09 3:42 PM | Reply
Score = 6

Let's hope so! Because Narrow Stairs bleeeeew.

Posted by: jennifer in reply to Curt's comment at 03/26/09 5:59 PM | Reply
Score = -6

this is awesomee
death cab, you HAVE TO DO a south american tour! (including Chile of course) ;)

Posted by: Luis at 03/26/09 5:09 PM | Reply
Score = 1

I heart Ben. The ultimate McSweeney's/Dave Eggers rocker! Now THAT would be a marriage that should happen!

Posted by: backthelashup at 03/26/09 6:02 PM | Reply
Score = 3

well'i'm glad that these weren't on the narrow stairs....they are just not that good..they don't have the emotion that has always facinated me on death cab...these are just plain forward rock songs

Posted by: dj käri at 03/26/09 7:02 PM | Reply
Score = -3

This is the sound I love from the band. This is amazing better than any song on the last album.

Posted by: Gareth at 03/26/09 7:08 PM | Reply
Score = 2

ohhh doctor. the bass at 2:36 is silky. cheers nick.

in fact, the last minute of this song is the best piece of music they've released in years.

Posted by: ryan at 03/26/09 8:11 PM | Reply
Score = 2

Well, this EP is officially light years ahead of Narrow Stairs. Another fucking stellar song!

Posted by: Evan at 03/26/09 9:25 PM | Reply
Score = 1

HE HAS QUIT DRINKING

Posted by: igludsss at 03/26/09 11:19 PM | Reply
Score = -3

another solid entry. I agree that these tracks don't really fit the Narrow Stairs tone - they're not sad-sacked, overly-lovelorn, or creepy! Maybe Ben's employing more rock balls because he's got the lady-friend to impress? Or maybe Nick Harmer's unchained stage-presence began having its due influence...
Thanks again SG for giving DCFC fans the goodies!

Posted by: agrokrag at 03/27/09 12:21 AM | Reply
Score = 3

Oh the fuzz at the beginning. DCFC went a bit more upbeat with this track, and I thank them for that.

Posted by: MediaRuckus at 03/27/09 12:31 AM | Reply
Score = 3

Love, love, love, love it!

Posted by: Chris N at 03/31/09 1:53 AM | Reply
Score = 0

Best track on this EP.

Posted by: King of Carrot Flowers at 04/30/09 9:11 PM | Reply
Score = 0