New Death Cab For Cutie - "Talking Bird (Demo)" (Stereogum Premiere)

All week we've been parsing Death Cab's new EP The Open Door, a companion set of five songs to the Narrow Stairs LP. The first four tracks were new. This one is not. Except for the ukulele part. Long time fans of Just Jazzin' know Ben's multi-instrumental abilities, so hearing him voice "Talking Bird" for Zach Condon's instrument of choice isn't so much a surprise as a delicate way to send off a set of quality, definitely-not-castoff tracks. Replace the washy Walla guitar scenery and chugging Harmer bass for mai-tai strums and a typically tender Gibbard vocal and you have a sense of The Open Door's final close. It's a pretty one.

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.

This has been fun, thanks Death Cab.

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

Posted at 2:22 PM by amrit
Tags: Death Cab For Cutie

17 Comments

I know this band gets a lot of slack from ultra cool hipsters on here.....but a song like this is just absolutely beautiful.....and that's why he's marrying Zooey, and none of us are....

Posted by: Brian at 03/27/09 2:42 PM | Reply
Score = 9

Get slack? You mean get crap? Get flack? Get cut slack?

Posted by: historyman68 in reply to Brian's comment at 03/29/09 4:00 PM | Reply
Score = -1

I like this version better.

Posted by: Stephanie at 03/27/09 2:43 PM | Reply
Score = 8

I like this version better, Also!

Posted by: Zach Reed at 03/27/09 3:43 PM | Reply
Score = 0

Amazing, i've followed this band from there debut and will remain a fan until the end. once again another great track that im sure will appear in every indie movie, hip tv show or commercial from now until the end of the decade

hats off to my favourite band and another great addition

Posted by: Anjohn at 03/27/09 3:57 PM | Reply
Score = 1

Yes, this is beautiful.
I'm glad to see the other commenters have some real music knowledge, I got really pissed after reading PopSense's bashing of this EP (http://www.popsense.com/2009/03/death-cab-for-cutie-open-door-ep-review.html), hopefully you guys will be able to prove to them what it means to appreciate music and not just be self righteous assholes.

Posted by: Jenn at 03/27/09 4:28 PM | Reply
Score = -1

this is precious.

Posted by: che at 03/27/09 4:41 PM | Reply
Score = 1

this version is clearly better than the first one!

Posted by: clabid at 03/27/09 4:44 PM | Reply
Score = -2

I am amazed how DCFC can continually release songs of this caliber. Another great EP, can't wait to see it live in 10 days.

Posted by: Skibum00 at 03/27/09 6:19 PM | Reply
Score = 2

Hearing and enjoying a song played acoustically like this always makes me appreciate the original that bit more as well.

Posted by: Andy Brice at 03/27/09 6:42 PM | Reply
Score = 4

UKELELE!
I definitely like this version better. Can't wait to see these guys again in Bellingham:)

Posted by: Kim at 03/27/09 10:53 PM | Reply
Score = 2

i prefer this version, this is so beautiful

Posted by: julia at 03/28/09 8:44 AM | Reply
Score = 2

this version with UKELELE > life

Posted by: XO at 03/29/09 3:42 AM | Reply
Score = 2

just beautiful, i love this too much

Posted by: aj at 03/29/09 10:03 AM | Reply
Score = 1

reminds me of amilcar LOL

Posted by: MIMOCO DOLL at 03/29/09 10:35 PM | Reply
Score = 0

i prefer this version.
actually i dislike the other one and thats saying something since it's probably the only death cab song I don't like. along with cath.. and no sunlight . (yes..narrow stairs was a dissapointment)

Posted by: Atmosfear at 03/30/09 2:36 PM | Reply
Score = 0

narrow stairs - talking bird studio - you can do better than me - pity and fear + these 5 songs = best death cab album ever

Posted by: grover at 04/01/09 8:41 PM | Reply
Score = 0