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Death Cab for Cutie

A Movie Script Ending

Label: Fierce Panda Release Date: 21/01/2002

jwestfox by James Westfox January 18th, 2002

Funny blokes, Death Cab For Cutie. Not only are they named after a song by legendary comedy popsters The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band, but their songs are full of quirky, weird and bizarre characters in woefully unrealistic and comic situations. But, all the same, they're utterly fantastic.

Death Cab For Cutie recall Modest Mouse and a faster paced Mercury Rev, gentle but powerful music sprawling from the revitalised post-grunge indie-scene of the Pacific northwest. "A Movie Script Ending", for want of a better phrase, is suitably gorgeous.

A poignant acoustic jangle opens the song, and as lead man Benjamen Gibbard's vocal chimes, a special sonic adventure is confirmed. "Now we all know the words were true in the sappiest songs " Gibbard seems to have tapped into the desolate indie world’s troubled psyche, and knows precisely what they think.

Indeed Gibbard's lyrics are perfectly observed vignettes, a cut above the stereotypical Dave Matthews-type norm. "We peered through the windows: new bottoms on barstools but the people remain the same, with prices inflating" This, for the first time in ages, is REALITY in a pop song.

Gibbard ruminates and ruminates, over subtle, chiming guitars and a soaring, epic chorus. Nothing wholly original, granted, but incredibly charming, nonetheless.

From brooding to buoyant, "A Movie Script Ending" sounds classic from the very first listen.

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