Death Cab for Cutie – Asphalt Meadows Review
An archive of an article I did in the Fall 2022 issue of Stetson University's The Reporter
Death Cab for Cutie returns with Asphalt Meadows, their tenth studio album and their first since 2018’s Thank You for Today. For those unfamiliar with the band, Death Cab for Cutie is an alternative rock group formed in Washington in 1997. The band is fronted by Ben Gibbard, the primary songwriter and lyricist, with Nick Harmer on bass, Jason McGerr on drums, and Zac Rae and Dave Depper on both keys and guitar. Rae and Depper, the most recent additions to the lineup, joined in 2015 after the departure of founding member Chris Walla, a multi-instrumentalist who co-wrote songs such as I Will Possess Your Heart. Asphalt Meadows marks the band’s second album since Walla’s exit.
The album's creation took an unconventional route. During the pandemic in 2020, while the world was on pause, Gibbard kept busy, live-streaming acoustic performances from home, playing nearly every song he had ever written, along with select covers. Meanwhile, the band collaborated remotely, sending files back and forth to compose new music. Despite this different approach, Asphalt Meadows retains the classic indie rock sound that defines Death Cab for Cutie.
The album opens with I Don’t Know How to Survive, a track in which Gibbard lays bare the anxieties brought on by the pandemic. The song perfectly captures the uncertainty and distress of 2020. One of the most striking lyrical moments comes in the verse:
"Pacing across the room while she's asleep
Tears raining down her cheeks
Trying to hold, trying to hold on
Praying, even though you don't believe
Just in case they are received
By anyone."
Death Cab has long been known for their poignant and introspective lyricism, and this album is no exception. Gibbard’s storytelling remains as evocative as ever, painting vivid emotional landscapes. The distorted, loud guitars on I Don’t Know How to Survive amplify the track’s frantic energy, mirroring the anxious emotions it conveys.
Track two, Roman Candles, the album’s lead single, kicks off with a burst of bombastic, crunchy guitar. After a brief instrumental build-up, Gibbard’s vocals emerge with one of my favorite lines on the record:
"It’s been a battle just to wake and greet the day
Then they all disappear like sugar in my coffee."
This lyric embodies the quintessential Death Cab sound—moody yet clever, wrapped in a beautifully constructed metaphor. Roman Candles is an electrifying track, making it the perfect choice for a lead single. With each listen, I find myself appreciating it more.
The album’s second single, Here to Forever, contemplates the passage of time. Gibbard describes watching an old film from the 1950s and realizing that every actor on screen is now gone. He reflects:
"It ain't easy living above
And I can't help but keep falling in love
With bones and ashes."
This meditation on nostalgia and mortality resonates deeply. As time moves forward, we encounter art from past generations, forming attachments to people and stories that no longer exist. Gibbard’s plea, "I wanna know the measure from here to forever," is particularly powerful, encapsulating the longing to understand life's impermanence.
Another standout track is Wheat Like Waves (Track 9), a touching ode to long-term friendship and the passage of time. The song takes place on a trip between two old friends, now grown, with their wives at home. The lyrics beautifully capture the experience of reconnecting:
"I never would've thought that life was so long
That we'd be growing old
With stories untold."
It’s a melancholic reminder of how relationships evolve—how even the closest friends can drift apart, missing out on significant chapters of each other’s lives. Death Cab excels at evoking these bittersweet emotions, and Wheat Like Waves is a prime example.
Other notable tracks include Pepper, Rand McNally, and Foxglove Through the Clearcut. Asphalt Meadows is a remarkably cohesive album, with each track serving a distinct purpose. The record blends poetic lyricism with diverse sonic textures, from mellow, introspective moments to danceable indie rock anthems like Roman Candles, the title track, and I Miss Strangers.
I also believe this album serves as a strong entry point for new listeners.
Listening to Asphalt Meadows felt like catching up with an old friend. I first discovered Death Cab in high school, and they’ve been my favorite band ever since. Over time, as they took a break from releasing new music, I explored other artists. But from the moment I hit play on this record, I was reminded of why this band means so much to me. Gibbard’s delicate vocals and the band’s atmospheric instrumentals have soundtracked pivotal moments in my life.
Hearing this new material felt like reconnecting with a best friend I hadn’t seen in years—yet somehow, it was as if no time had passed. Asphalt Meadows brings fresh material while preserving the signature sound and lyrical depth that fans love.
Final Score: 8/10