Release Date: May 31, 2011
Atlantic Records; 11 Tracks; CD, LP
Review by: Sean McNamara
With Codes And Keys, Death Cab For Cutie show us that there's nothing wrong with lightening up a little.
It's no secret that Ben Gibbard, singer/songwriter of the Washington based four-piece Death Cab For Cutie, has a penchant for penning songs of a somewhat gloomy nature. For example, past song titles include "No Sunlight", "You Can Do Better Than Me", and "I Will Follow You Into The Dark". This is what makes the first listen of Codes And Keys somewhat interesting; the material on most of the album has a more uplifting sound to it than what you might be used to from this band.
The album opens with "Home Is A Fire", which has pulsating synths and scattered percussion leading it to sound a lot like Ben Gibbard's (vocals, guitar) other project The Postal Service. However, the rest of Codes And Keys doesn't stray too far from the usual Death Cab For Cutie sound. Strings accentuate the album's very strong title track, while the bouncy "Some Boys" is a statement about men who carelessly break hearts, claiming "some boys don't know how to love".
"Stay Young, Go Dancing", aside from having the most outrageously positive song title on the album, is a love song to the female actress/singer that has captured the heart of Ben Gibbard (vocals/guitar). The album is nicely complimented with the rolling drums and laid back melody of "You Are A Tourist", and "Portable Television" has a base line that dares you not to dance along to it.
Codes And Keys proves to be an enjoyable listen from beginning to end, and even though there is nothing too adventurous on this album, it's more laid back, pleasant feel adds a nice addition to the Death Cab For Cutie catalogue.
