Narrow Stairs
by Death Cab for Cutie
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: May 13, 2008
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 99 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 99
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 99
  3. Negative: 8 out of 99

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. GregT
    May 21, 2008
    3
    Death Cab continues to do the same thing over and over again. The lyrics are the same over-enunciated genericism about souls and death and eyes and boring things like that. The drummer, who is probably the band's most talented member, continues to limit himself quite obviously, and the apparent single, "I Will Possess Your Heart" is a sad, failing, and empty attempt to be avant-garde Death Cab continues to do the same thing over and over again. The lyrics are the same over-enunciated genericism about souls and death and eyes and boring things like that. The drummer, who is probably the band's most talented member, continues to limit himself quite obviously, and the apparent single, "I Will Possess Your Heart" is a sad, failing, and empty attempt to be avant-garde with a two-bar bassline that repeats the entire way through 8 minutes of barely any activity until the same old Death Cab boredom comes back four minutes in. The fact that they (as spoken in interviews) think that this album is "experimental" just shows that Death Cab really doesn't get it. To still consider this 'indie', which was barely even acceptable with the release of "Plans," reveals a willingness on the part of the musical community to go along with whatever a hit band vomits up. They do it with Panic(!) at the Disco, they do it with Radiohead, and they do it with Death Cab For Cutie. There is potential in Death Cab's songwriting, but Ben Gibbard and company need to spend a little more time writing an album and a little less time buying bigger and bigger black-frame glasses and looking inquisitive.… Expand
  2. LimeyQ.
    May 28, 2008
    2
    The most disappointing album of the year so far. Mediocre songs played clumsily with cheesy lyrics and bad arrangements. They sound like a second rate Wilco at their worst.
  3. currer_bell
    Jun 4, 2011
    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 probablyI 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

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Most Discussed Album of 2008
85
#85 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Narrow Stairs is far from desperate, however, and the album's willingness to steer Death Cab into unfamiliar territory (or, to reference an earlier lyric, "into the dark"), is by far its strongest asset.
    Read full review
  2. Billboard
    80
    The songs here hit with a full-on assault of crunching guitar riffs, distorted, cracked vocals and walls of disorienting feedback, while lyrically, frontman Ben Gibbard visits the moodier and darker corners of his mind.
    Read full review
  3. Lost At Sea
    65
    Ben Gibbard has shown growth which each successive release, and made the jump to hooky pop-songsmith with the Postal Service's (apparently) one-off collaboration, but Narrow Stairs feels stagnant, devoid of even the superficial pleasures present on Plans.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »