Quick, Before It Melts.

I was slow to hop on the bandwagon with Death Cab For Cutie, but I have come to admire their dexterity and ingenuity as a musical collective. Transatlanticism never really burned up my speakers the way it did those of others, but it was enough to get me interested in exploring their back catalogue, and to build anticipation for the release of Plans in 2005. That seems like such a long time ago, but the long hiatus the band have been on while members worked on side projects has produced another fine (more than fine) DCFC album, as Narrow Stairs gets it's official release today.

If Plans was their slick-production album, then Narrow Stairs their breaking-the-mould album: extended intros, jagged edges, and some of their best playing in years. It's quite possibly the antithesis of Plans, and surely is going to be a contender for album of the year. I've been entranced and intoxicated by it for a while now, and haven't tired yet. Amazingly, my notorious short attention span does not seem to be affected by the 8 minute-plus first single "I Will Possess Your Heart." However, my favourite track has to be "Long Division" by far; it's a spunky, indie rock track that lies comfortably next to "Your New Twin Sized Bed," the album's most touching pop-esque moment. "Pity and Fear" that follows starts to branch into world music instrumentation that at first seems out of place, but eventually blends into the DCFC sound seamlessly.

Narrow Stairs is Death Cab For Cutie's second major label release on Atlantic, and was produced by the band's resident musical genius, Chris Walla.