CD of The Week

Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben (I’m sorry, Benjamin) Gibbard has worked outside of his band many times in the past. Perhaps you remember a little project called The Postal Service? However, Former Lives is the first album with his own given name on the front. The record isn’t much of a stylistic stretch for Gibbard, whose recognizable voice rings out front and center throughout this enjoyable set of straightforward tunes.

Fans expecting confessional, sad-bastard-music in Gibbard’s first release since his divorce from Zooey Deschanel will be disappointed, as Gibbard wrote the songs on Former Lives at various points over the years. In fact, Zooey appears on the record, singing backup on the mariachi influenced tune, “Something’s Rattling (Cowpoke).” The shuffling “Dream Song” and the single “Teardrop Windows,” an ode to Seattle skyscraper the Smith Tower are classic Death Cab-style songs. One of the high points on the record is the Aimee Mann duet “Bigger Than Love,” a sad tale of a fractured relationship over typically bouncy indie-pop. Aside from these high-profile contributors, Gibbard played and recorded essentially everything on Former Lives himself.

Other highlights include the McCartney-ish “Duncan, Where Have You Gone?,” the jaunty “Oh, Woe” and the driving “A Hard One To Know.” As expected of a collection of “leftover” songs,Former Lives is a mixed bag but very much an enjoyable one and a pleasant surprise that Death Cab fans shouldn’t miss. Gibbard will play a solo gig at The Keswick Theatreon November 7th.