Transatlanticism is the fourth studio album by indie rock band Death Cab for
Cutie, released on October 7, 2003, by Barsuk Records. The band's second
concept album, Transatlanticism features a theme set around long-distance love.
Three singles and accompanying music videos were released for the album: "The
New Year", "The Sound of Settling", and "Title and Registration". The first two
singles, "The New Year" and "The Sound of Settling", reached number 86 and 84,
respectively, on the UK Singles Chart. Transatlanticism received acclaim from
critics when it was released and has since been considered the band's
greatest album. The album charted at number 97 on the Billboard 200, and has
been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, for
shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States. In 2013, Barsuk Records
released Transatlanticism Demos, a collection of demo versions of songs
from Transatlanticism to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the album's
release. Background
Similar to all previous Death Cab for Cutie releases, Transtlanticism was
mostly written by lead vocalist and guitarist Ben Gibbard, with many of the
songs co-written with other members of the band, particularly guitarist and
producer Chris Walla. Prior to the album's release, Gibbard stated:
"...unlike The Photo Album, I feel like this record is definitely more like a
proper album. We’ve tried to construct it with transitions of songs going in
and out of each other, and I think it's a little bit more expansive than the
last record." The album is the first to feature
drummer Jason McGerr, who joined the band earlier in 2003, and features
writing credits on the songs "The New Year", and "We Looked Like Giants".
Release and reception When Transatlanticism was released in
2003, it charted at number 97 on the Billboard 200. By May 2004, it had sold
135,000 copies, and on April 29, 2008, it was certified gold by the Recording
Industry Association of America, having shipped 500,000 copies in the United
States. Transatlanticism was released to
widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a
normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album
received an average score of 85, based on 21 reviews. Uncut magazine called it
"a record of rare beauty and poise", and Alternative Press called it "Death Cab's
slowest and most mature recording" with "hidden bits of magic [that] reveal
themselves brilliantly." Andy Greenwald of Spin found the lyrics' imagery to be
strikingly vivid and praised both Gibbard and producer Chris Walla's
musical direction. Rob Theakston of AllMusic wrote that Transatlanticism is
"such a decadently good listen from start to finish" because of the band's
maturity as songwriters and musicians. Stephen Thompson, writing in The A.V.
Club, said that the album "surpasses Gibbard's other career highpoints" and
called it "a lush, impeccably produced, musically adventurous, emotionally
resonant examination of the way relationships are both strengthened and
damaged by distance". Christine Klunk of PopMatters called it a "nearly perfect
pop record" whose straightforward melodies and honest narratives extol the
human condition. In a mixed review, William Morris from
Pitchfork Media felt that the album "dulls the edges of their usually acute
divinations". Colin McElligatt of Stylus Magazine said that despite his strong
melodies, Gibbard has regressed as a lyricist, as his lyrics are more
"asinine" than before. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice cited "We Looked
Like Giants" as a "choice cut", indicating "a good song on an album that
isn't worth your time or money". In 2011, Transatlanticism was named by
NPR Music as one of the fifty most important recordings of the decade,
ranked 57th in Rolling Stone magazine's decade-end list. In 2013, Death Cab For
Cutie re-released the album, marking its 10th year anniversary with a remaster
available as vinyl or MP3 download, including demos for all the songs from
the album. Reviewing the reissue, Ian Cohen from Pitchfork Media reconsidered
William Morris' initial assessment of the album and awarded the album a higher
score, stating that "judging Death Cab, and Transatlanticism in particular, from
a completely objective standpoint feels kinda insincere and wholly inaccurate."
Track listing All lyrics written by Ben Gibbard.
= Reissue bonus material = Personnel
Death Cab for Cutie Benjamin Gibbard – vocals, guitar,
piano, foot-stomp and hand clap effects on "The Sound of Settling"
Nick Harmer – bass guitar, vocals on "Transatlanticism", foot-stomp and hand
clap effects on "The Sound of Settling" Jason McGerr – drums, loops, percussion,
foot-stomp and hand clap effects on "The Sound of Settling"
Christopher Walla – guitar, keyboards, samples, production, mixing, recording,
vocals on "Transatlanticism" Additional personnel
Ed Brooks – mastering John Goodmanson – mixing on "The Sound
of Settling" and "Tiny Vessels" Rob Herbst – foot-stomp and hand clap
effects on "The Sound of Settling" Sean Nelson – vocals on
"Transatlanticism" John Roderick – vocals on
"Transatlanticism" Phil Wandscher – vocals on
"Transatlanticism" Mike Kezner – sitar, vocals on "Death of
an Interior Decorator" Charts
References External links
Transatlanticism at Discogs