I have only fairly recently started getting into Death Cab For Cutie. My hunch is that Mike Last got there before me given that he plays acoustic guitar and sings his simple plaintive melodies in a very Ben Gibbard manner.
Last is the frontman and songwriter for this four-piece band from Eugene, Oregon. The band formed in 2009, have released one EP (Time Changes) and this is their first full length album.
The name refers to the notion of taking a path slightly beyond the 'straight and narrow' although there is nothing particularly radical or transgressive about their sound.
Instead, the ten songs are gentle reflections on people, nature and music mostly with a dreamy, even sleepy, feel.
"Acoustic driven Americana with a Rock and Roll temper" is how they describe it themselves, although, the quaint self-censorship of the song 'Sh*t Adv*ce' illustrates that the rock attitude is fairly muted.
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A sense of place is a key element of the songs . Sam Bond's Garage is an affectionate nod to one of their home town's favourite hangouts ("the band was good and the beer was strong / I'm as weary as an old country song") and Wyoming evokes the "wide open" qualities of that State.
River Road also has a open air mood while Eyes Like David Bowie is a nicely offbeat song of friendship/love.
All in all an easy going record with a peaceful country vibe.
Stagger & Sway's Website
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