Music Reviews
Margaret Price
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: editor's picks
Versus Magazine Online [Image based format]
Death Cab for Cutie, the quintessential all-American indie rock band, has come a long way from being their own roadies, setting up their own equipment, playing $5 shows, and casually mingling with audiences at their own concerts. DCFC has become a mainstay on college campuses across the nation, their success bolstered primarily by their ongoing stint on "The O.C." Their fifth full-length album "Plans", released August 30th, follows the lush and expansive "Transatlanticism", an album that proved that their sound continues to grow along with their audience and fame. Lead singer Ben Gibbard's soulful vocals and expansive lyrics are the driving force behind Death Cab for Cutie's power and influence. While their move from homegrown Barsuk Records to major-label Atlantic has some questioning the band's artistic integrity, they assure fans that the decision to move was not taken lightly and will not compromise their artistry. DCFC may be opening up a new chapter in their collective history, but there is no doubt that indie rock's sweethearts will continue to amaze listeners.
Death Cab for Cutie performs at the War
Memorial Auditorium on October 28th. 8 pm.
Sufjan (SOOF-yan) Stevens is the newest breakout artist on the independent music scene. Much of the hype surrounding him stems from the proposed undertaking of his "50 States Project", a collection of musical anthropological narratives beginning in his home state of Michigan. Each chapter draws upon both historical evidence and personal accounts to fashion a musical collage of each state's unique personality. After the second installment in his continuing saga, "Come On and Feel the Illinoise", Stevens is showing no signs of slowing down. Instrumentation on both albums ranges from oboe to strings to banjo, and his expressive lyrics show that Stevens is no stranger to the writing process. After studying creative writing in college, he taught writing classes until he made his way into the music industry. Stevens is often criticized for his references to Christianity in his songs, but he handles such subjects with diplomacy and candor. "Are you writing from the heart?" the ghost of Carl Sandburg asks him on the third track. His sincere lyrics and hauntingly beautiful vocals leave no doubt in listeners' minds that Sufjan Stevens' music stems from nowhere but his heart.