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Narrow Stairs - Death Cab for Cutie
Narrow Stairs Image
Metascore
73 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: The indie rockers' follow-up to their platinum album "Plans" features an eight-and-a-half-minute-long song.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. The A.V. Club
    100
    Narrow Stairs finds Death Cab comfortable with all aspects of its musical personality--and on top of them all.
  2. Under The Radar
    90
    Narrow Stairs proves that with Death Cab For Cutie, it's possible to relax and let them do their own thing. Which is a remarkable thing indeed. [Spring 2008, p.75]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Pitchfork
    60
    At times, the maturation feels forced; the more adventurous moments here are experimental only for such a high-profile group, and they don't play to Gibbard's sentimental, word-weighing strengths.

See all 31 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 3 out of 27
  1. ae
    10
    Joseph- no way. transantlantisism or photo album is their best. and Chad - such great heights is postal service, not death cab. Weirdfish - my god you insult me they are NOT emo... and Sam - if Cath is any song it is death of an interior decorator, not tiny vessels. Fools.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. TheDaveHimself
    5
    I suppose this album had to happen as a transition between Plans and Codes & Keys, but I still never got on board this one. Decent songs throughout ("Cath" might be one of their better songs), but overall it felt more like a collection of B-sides and near misses. The flow on this album is nowhere to be seen.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. currer_bell
    3
    I can't believe how some people were able to dig that one out. This album is terrible... Except from the excellent opener Bixby canyon bridge every songs here seems to be a plain bore, absolutely not fun, melodic or catchy at all... or even artistically interesting. "I will possess your heart " will certainly go down in history as Death cab least good song they ever wrote, they probably already want to eradicate it completely from their catalog. It 's sad because to album cover and the title is really good, I really wanted to like that album, but unfortunately couldn't.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 27 User Reviews

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