To: Guster and Death Cab For Cutie

I have a lot to say right now that I keep wanting to say but when I actually have time to write I don't feel like writing about those things.

First of all I feel as though I have something very important two tell two very important bands. And this something could also apply to other arenas I suppose.

I am not a fan of bands that start out with something rather unique, gain a fan base, then try to conform to other pop music to expand their fan base and in the process, disappoint their original loyal fans. Two cases in point:

Case A: Guster. They began with three guys, and everyone of them had a very unique role in the music. Now, there's four of them, and I feel like only one of them really makes himself known. Guster, more than any other band I know, has almost a cult-like following. This is largely for one reason: the hand drums. It's what made them popular because it's what made them unique. In their original music, from Parachute to Keept It Together (although decreasing by that point), the hand drums is what makes them different. But Ganging Up On The Sun has hand drums for like three seconds in one song. Their music has gotten better--more mature, catchier--but they've dropped the most essential thing.

Further in this case, originally, Guster often did the following: Adam would sing the verses with some backup by Ryan, then Ryan would sing the chorus. Their voices blend together wonderfully, and Adam's lower voice complements Ryan's (at times slightly annoyingly) higher one. It created so much more depth in their music to have two different singers. Now, however, they have digressed to Ryan singing nearly everything and Adam only singing backup. It's saddening.

I hope I do not mislead. Guster has matured so much as a band, but they're trying a bit too hard right now I believe. This just sets them up to come back so strong with their next release.

Case B: Death Cab For Cutie. You Can Play These Songs With Chords is their very first release, and I will not boast its quality because it is far from their best album. They experiment with all kinds of different stuff and even have several punk songs, which I will not laud too excessively. However, similarly to Guster, back in the day the band allowed both Ben Gibbard (current frontman/lead singer) and Chris Walla to sing. Now, Ben Gibbard sings nearly everything. Interestingly, it's his voice that has steared me away from Death Cab lately. I can only take so much of it. (I must say that it blends with Postal Service's work so beautifully, though. Sounds much better in that context.)

Meanwhile, Chris Walla has done some solo stuff (which he has so kindly put up for free on his website) that is quite quality. Very quality. And he sings something like four songs on Death Cab's previously mentioned first album. It's such a refreshing mix with Ben's leads. Plus, shouldn't a name like Chris Walla have at least co-frontman status? (I dub his name up there with Ben Kweller and Jon Schneck with cool musician names.)

So Death Cab now writes much better songs and is more mature musically, but they need to have Chris Walla sing again. Please.

Friends of Guster and Death Cab please pass this urgent message along. Guster and I are tight...I met them, so perhaps they'll be calling me soon for my advice on their new album they're getting ready to write.

LB

Currently listening to: Supertramp but still thinking about the Arcade Fire song I listened to about an hour ago that was amazing. Ok, now listening to it again and getting chills. Holy crap.

Currently reading: Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing (although that is going on hiatus in 24 hours and 42 minutes to read Harry Potter 7)

This song is amazing. I think I may need to devote an entire post to it later.