Released nearly a year after their critically acclaimed Narrow Stairs and made up of songs recorded during the same sessions, Death Cab for Cutie's newest EP, The Open Door, certainly differentiates itself from their last release. It's easy to see why the band didn't include these five far more upbeat songs on the depressing Narrow Stairs. For one thing, these songs wouldn't have fit the darker mood of the album. For another, it satisfies the unending, if somewhat masochistic, craving Death Cab for Cutie fans have for the melancholy and melodic styling of Ben Gibbard.
That said, the EP holds together well as a peppier version of the band's previous releases. The up-tempo first track, ""Little Bribes,"" is a whimsical look at visiting casinos, and with lyrics like ""Pretend every slot machine is a robot amputee waving hello / The people stare into their eyes and they feed them little bribes,"" the listener is certainly kept entertained.
The second song, ""Diamond and a Tether,"" reverts back to the sleepy rock and folk style that is the band's signature, though the clear melody and clean guitar riffs stop it from veering into Narrow Stairs territory. It's also a classic Gibbard song with his usual mix of self pity, love and paranoia, with lyrics like ""Pity, take pity on me / Because I'm not half the man that I should be.""
The third track, ""My Mirror Speaks,"" is both the best on the album and the most upbeat. With a foot-stomping backbeat and lyrics like ""I always fall in love with an open door / With a horizon on an endless sea,"" it definitely has a Beatles-esque flair and recalls ""Summer Skin"" from their album Plans. Unfortunately, the next song, ""I Was Once a Loyal Lover,"" is probably the worst of the bunch. Interesting lyrics like ""I wait to talk when I should listen / And cloud mistakes with false revisions"" are completely overrun by fuzzed-out guitars with artsy riffs, walking baselines and even cymbals. It's too layered to hang together and leaves the listener feeling dizzy afterward.
The final track, which is promoted as a demo, is probably the most unique and interesting of the EP. Gibbard sings a refreshingly sweet tune along to a ukulele. Although this may not sound like the usual Death Cab for Cutie fare, lyrics like ""It's all here for you / as long as you don't fly away"" will still resonate with any lovelorn fan.
Death Cab for Cutie has yet to put out a bad album, and in all, this EP recommends itself well. The Open Door fits perfectly with the band's other albums and deserves a listen, especially ""Little Bribes"" and ""My Mirror Speaks."" As far as owning it goes, its strength as quintessential Death Cab is also its weakness, and it is probably more of a collectable item for the avid devotee than for the average listener.
