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Death Cab for Cutie
Something About Airplanes
Release Date: 1999 03 02
Label: Barsuk
Rating:

The fact that Elsinor and Barsuk, two relatively small labels, conspired to co-release Something About Airplanes should give some indication as to its quality. It's a solid, emotive, and frequently amazing indie rock record that foreshadows Death Cab for Cutie's eventual ascent into the mainstream. Sonically, the band falls somewhere on the dreamier and more pop-oriented end of Built to Spill's sound (particularly on Keep It Like a Secret), alongside the Posies' most pensive tracks, or with Delta Haymax -- that is, dynamic, melodic, and somewhat atmospheric Northwestern rock. What's important, however, is that the composition, arrangement, and perfect vocal harmonies of Something About Airplanes are all hugely effective; the band uses light touches of flute, synth, or cello to add the necessary textures to its well-crafted pop songs, and the result has a consistently impressive and thoroughly engaging quality that rivals Built to Spill's Keep It Like a Secret. Which is quite a complement -- but tracks like "Bend to Squares" and "Pictures in an Exhibition" deserve as much adulation as one can offer. Nitsuh Abebe, All Music Guide

Tracks:

	Title	Composer	Time
1	Bend to Squares	Walla, Gibbard	4:33
2	President of What?	Gibbard	4:01
3	Champagne from a Paper Cup	Gibbard	2:38
4	Your Bruise	Walla, Gibbard	4:19
5	Pictures in an Exhibition	Gibbard	3:49
6	Sleep Spent	Walla, Gibbard	3:37
7	Face That Launched 1000 Shits	Chilcote	3:41
8	Amputations	Gibbard	4:54
9	Fake Frowns	Walla, Gibbard	4:30
10	Line of Best Fit	Gibbard	7:14