In and Out :: New Death Cab For Cutie, "I Will Possess Your Heart" [MP3]

Death Cab For Cutie is back ... sort of. It is undeniable that the band is physically returning to the catalogue of recorded music with a new album, Narrow Stairs due out on May 13th but perhaps more debatable is if the new record will be any good. After releasing a fairly inspiring video preview, featuring shots of the band doing the actual recording the record (read: Ben Gibbard not finishing the Postal Service album), it would be safe to say there was at least a little buzz behind the finishing of this release. And so yesterday at just before 5pm, Atlantic Records (who fantastically overpaid for what ended up being Plans and not Transatlanticism) released the new Death Cab For Cutie single, "I Will Possess Your Heart."

It clocks in at 8:28 and will end up getting a "Radio Edit" (the idea of radio play being filed somewhere between "optimistic" and "three people at Atlantic Records should start cleaning out their desks") down to somewhere in the four-minute range. Ben Gibbard drives into the parking lot at about the three-and-a-half minute mark with some quiet "na, na, na's" but doesn't really show up until 4:30. If you're scoring at home, that's more than half the song as vocal-less intro, begging the question of who at Atlantic Records is paying an ounce of attention to this release?

The melody smells a little like the sing-songy depression of an Interpol song and Gibbard sounds a little rougher than "Soul Meets Body." It's not close to a growl but there is an edge to his vocal that we have seen in at least two records, maybe ever. The chorus, "you've got to spend some time, love" will get stuck in your head and might, just might crack your next mix-tape. Check it up or check it down.

Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart