Slant Magazine Narrow Stairs album review

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On the surprisingly tepid Narrow Stairs, the sensitive indie boys of Death Cab for Cutie seem to have tired somewhat of being themselves. Perhaps the thrill has gone out of providing lushly emotional soundtracks for the nation's brokenhearted? Pity, they were excellent at it. Lead singer Ben Gibbard and guitarist/producer Chris Walla used to seem more than typically attuned to the peculiar sensations associated with young love. Here, the band only glancingly employs its felicitous ability to wrest emotional significance from the most treacly of melodies and sentiment. As it turns out, they're quite a bit less adept at Can-referencing krautrock, like the meandering lead single/stalker anthem "I Will Possess Your Heart," or Eastern-inflected statements like "Pity and Fear." And they should certainly refrain from ripping off the Beach Boys, as on the drably bouncy "You Can Do Better Than Me."