Introducing: Pre-Emptive Pounces

We at Mitchfork have long asked ourselves why we should be waiting for the albums to be released upon us when we have at our disposal the tools to release on them. It is in this spirit that we proudly begin a series entitled: Pre-Emptive Pounces

In each installment of this series we will review an upcoming album not only before it is released, but before we have listened to more than 10 seconds of it. This week's album? Death Cab for Cutie's sixth release, Narrow Stairs.

Initial impressions following the first ten seconds of the bassline for "I Will Possess Your Heart" are recorded below. These impressions apply to the album as a whole.

... Death Cab... we meet again. Well met. I see you have some new tricks up your sleeve with this, your sixtenial release. Clearly trying to push the boundaries are we? Think you're gonna make this a statement album? Well I got news for you... I LOVE IT.

Narrow Stairs is by far the least accessible of any DCFC album ever made, and thus the best. I'm not there yet, but when I reach the recorder solo set to an ocean noise backdrop on the album's closer I know I'll be in tears. They've done it. Those Pacific Northwest pussies have finally done it. It's the Beach Boys meets Joy Division. It's Grizzy Bear meets Panda Bear. It's everything and it's nothing.

Ben Gibbard traveled deep into the Swiss Alps before beginning the recording of his vocals, and it shows. I would say the tribal beats inherent in his consonants remind me of early Man Man, were it not for the overwhelming reverb. Tracks 4-8 qualify on their own as a separate EP, a fuzzed out masterpiece of overwhelming arrogance. I would argue they don't even belong on this album.

In conclusion, to the right of us we have exhibit A. A PB &J sandwich. Then there is exhibit B. Narrow Stairs. You tell me what gets best album of 2008. And "Bixby Canyon Bridge" is going to be my wedding song. I just know it. Yes, I know i'm already married.

Thus ends the first installment of "Pre-Emptive Pounces". Where we get the album before the album can get us.