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
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....
Score = 9
Get slack? You mean get crap? Get flack? Get cut slack?
Score = -1
I like this version better.
Score = 8
I like this version better, Also!
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
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.
Score = -1
this is precious.
Score = 1
this version is clearly better than the first one!
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.
Score = 2
Hearing and enjoying a song played acoustically like this always makes me appreciate the original that bit more as well.
Score = 4
UKELELE!
I definitely like this version better. Can't wait to see these guys again in Bellingham:)
Score = 2
i prefer this version, this is so beautiful
Score = 2
this version with UKELELE > life
Score = 2
just beautiful, i love this too much
Score = 1
reminds me of amilcar LOL
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)
Score = 0
narrow stairs - talking bird studio - you can do better than me - pity and fear + these 5 songs = best death cab album ever
Score = 0