I Built You A Tower

11th album from the Seattle indie rock band led by Ben Gibbard. First new album in four years. This set of songs grew out of the heartbreak and anxiety Gibbard felt in dealing with his recent divorce and the loneliness of touring. Critics are calling it the best Death Cab album in a decade or more. The lyrics are complex and emotionally engaging. The weariness in the words doesn’t diminish the energy of the band. The guitar work is excellent, rhythms are solid, vocals and harmonies shine, and there’s even a little synth pop thrown in as a bonus. RIYL: The Postal Service (Gibbard’s previous band), The Shins, Modest Mouse or Rilo Kiley.
— Francis

Recommended: 9, 6, 8, 4, 1, 2. No FCCs noted.

1. (3:23) Full Of Stars — Hushed and prayerful. Acoustic guitar and piano with Gibbard’s vocals setting the stage for the album’s themes. Jangle guitar in the lead break. ***
2. (3:12) Punching The Flowers — Heavier and a bit strident. Gnarly, discordant guitars. Snapping, urgent snare. Edgy electric guitar in the lead break. ***
3. (3:14) Pep Talk — Bouncier and more upbeat — one of the few such tracks on the album. Lilting vocals over jangling guitars.
4. (3:23) I Built You A Tower (a) — Wistful, harmonious melody with a traditional Death Cab sound. Skipping rhythm, shimmering guitar and powerful doubled vocals. The first of two takes on the title track — standing in stark contrast to the ‘in-your-face’ (b) version at the end. ****
5. (4:20) Envy The Birds — Starts manic and jittery. Grungy, with sharp guitar attacks and crisp, slapping drums. Resolves to a softer sound at around 1:30
6. (3:14) Stone Over Water — Another tune that captures the emotions Gibbard experienced during his time writing the songs for the album. Lucious chime-y guitar with a pulsing bass, steady rhythm and lovely harmonies in the choruses. ****
7. (3:30) How Heavenly A State — Raw track filled with distorted guitar, noise and feedback over chaotic drumming.
8. (3:53) Trap Door — Silky smooth synth ballad. Lush soundscape somewhat reminiscent of the late 70s, encapsulating Gibbard’s gentle vocals. Swelling piano solo in the lead break. ****
9. (3:17) Riptides — Confident strut over trance-like synth, driven by a single-note bass line. The lead single. Upbeat melody, with vocals that reveal the fatigue Gibbard felt in dealing with his divorce and other life changes. ****
10. (3:45) The Flavor Of Metal — Dynamic rocker with multiple layers and structural shifts. Relatively mellow, but with plenty of energy and pace.
11. (3:28) I Built You A Tower (b) — Alternate version of the title track. Much more ominous, distorted and cacophonous. Concludes on a roar.