Transatlanticism

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Transatlanticism
Studio album by Death Cab for Cutie
Released October 7, 2003
Genre Indie rock, alternative rock
Length 44:11
Label Barsuk
Producer Chris Walla
Death Cab for Cutie chronology
The Photo Album
(2001)		 Transatlanticism
(2003)		 Plans
(2005)

Transatlanticism is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, released on October 7, 2003, by Barsuk Records. The album charted at number 97 on the Billboard 200.[1] It has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, having shipped 500,000 copies in the United States.[2]

Contents

Background[edit]

Prior to the album's release, Ben 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."[3]

The album is Jason McGerr's first as the band's drummer.[4]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[5]
Alternative Press 4.5/5 stars[6]
Blender 3.5/5 stars[7]
Mojo 3/5 stars[8]
Pitchfork Media 6.4/10[9]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars[10]
Slant Magazine 4/5 stars[11]
Spin A–[12]
Sputnikmusic 4.5/5[13]
Uncut 4/5 stars[14]

The album received highly positive reviews, and is to date the band's most acclaimed album. Transatlanticism scored an 85 on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".[15] Uncut magazine called it "a record of rare beauty and poise".[14] Rob Theakston of Allmusic stated, "It's the group's maturity as musicians as well as songwriters that make Transatlanticism such a decadently good listen from start to finish".[5] 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".[16] Andy Greenwald of Spin found it "full of striking, tactile imagery" and praised Gibbard and producer Chris Walla's musical direction.[12]

In a mixed review, William Morris from Pitchfork Media felt that the album "dulls the edges of their usually acute divinations".[9] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice cited "We Looked Like Giants" as a "choice cut",[17] indicating "a good song on an album that isn't worth your time or money".[18]

In 2011, NPR Music named the album one of the fifty most important recordings of the decade.[19] The album was rated the 57th best of the decade by Rolling Stone.[20]

References in popular culture[edit]

Tracks from Transatlanticism have been featured in several films and television shows. A poster of the album cover hangs in the bedroom of The O.C. character Seth Cohen, and a copy of the album is part of his "starter pack" during the first "Chrismukkah" episode. The song "A Lack of Color" is featured on Music From The OC: Mix 2. The song "Transatlanticism" was featured in a season four episode of Six Feet Under, both a season five and season nine episode of CSI: Miami ("Death Pool" and "Fallen"), a season three episode of Parenthood, an episode of Harper's Island, and the films The Puffy Chair and Disturbia. "The Sound of Settling" was featured on the soundtracks for Wedding Crashers, Shop Girl, and Mean Creek. The song "Passenger Seat" was featured in the Californication episode "Girls, Interrupted". Most recently the track "Transatlanticism" was used for the preview of the film Beastly and was featured in the movie Easy A and on NBC's Parenthood in the episode "Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You".

The title track was also used in a Bell Mobility promotion leading up to the Beijing 2008 summer Olympic games.

Track listing[edit]

All lyrics by Ben Gibbard

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "The New Year"   Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer, Jason McGerr, Chris Walla 4:06
2. "Lightness"   Gibbard 3:30
3. "Title and Registration"   Gibbard, Walla 3:39
4. "Expo '86"   Gibbard, Walla 4:11
5. "The Sound of Settling"   Gibbard 2:12
6. "Tiny Vessels"   Gibbard, Harmer 4:21
7. "Transatlanticism"   Gibbard, Walla 7:55
8. "Passenger Seat"   Gibbard 3:41
9. "Death of An Interior Decorator"   Gibbard 2:56
10. "We Looked Like Giants"   Gibbard, Harmer, McGerr, Walla 5:32
11. "A Lack of Color"   Gibbard 3:35

Personnel[edit]

Death Cab for Cutie
  • Benjamin Gibbard – vocals, guitar, piano
  • Nick Harmer – bass guitar, vocals on "Transatlanticism", foot-stomp and hand clap effects on "The Sound of Settling"
  • Jason McGerr – drums, foot-stomp and hand clap effects on "The Sound of Settling"
  • Christopher Walla – guitar, keyboards, production, mixing (except "The Sound of Settling" and "Tiny Vessels"), recording, vocals on "Transatlanticism"
  • Mike Kezner - sitar, vocals on "Death of an Interior Decorator"
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"

References[edit]

  1. ^ Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Death Cab for Cutie
  2. ^ Billboard RIAA Album Certifications
  3. ^ discorder | that magazine from CiTR 101.9fm. Discorder.ca. Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Art Pop from Seattle's Death Cab for Cutie : NPR Music. Npr.org (2005-10-24). Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Theakston, Rob. "Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie". Allmusic. Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  6. ^ "Review: Transatlanticism". Alternative Press: 98. November 2003. 
  7. ^ "Review: Transatlanticism". Blender: 116. October 2003. 
  8. ^ "Review: Transatlanticism". Mojo: 122. December 2003. 
  9. ^ a b Pitchfork Media: Transatlanticism review. Pitchfork.com (2003-10-07). Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
  10. ^ Tsang, Teri (November 10, 2003). "Transatlanticism". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  11. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (November 13, 2003). "Death Cab For Cutie: Transatlanticism". Slant Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  12. ^ a b Greenwald, Andy (November 2003). "Reviews". Spin: 112. Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  13. ^ Knott, Adam (November 15, 2008). "Review: Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  14. ^ a b "Review: Transatlanticism". Uncut: 107. November 2003. 
  15. ^ Transatlanticism. Metacritic. Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
  16. ^ Thompson, Stephen (October 6, 2003). "Death Cab For Cutie: Transatlanticism". The A.V. Club (Chicago). Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  17. ^ Christgau, Robert (January 13, 2004). "Consumer Guide: MLK Fever". The Village Voice (New York). Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  18. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG 90s: Key to Icons". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 5, 2013. 
  19. ^ Boilen, Bob. (2009-11-16) The Decade's 50 Most Important Recordings : All Songs Considered Blog. NPR. Retrieved on July 7, 2011.
  20. ^ Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums, Songs Of The ’00s. Stereogum. Retrieved on July 7, 2011.

External links[edit]

Death Cab for Cutie
Studio albums
Other
EPs
Singles
Filmography
Related articles
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