Tranatlanticism is quintessential winter listening. Most will say that this title belongs to Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, but I think it is a designation that can be shared. Many of the songs here are cold and moody as the lyrics explore themes of isolation, sorrow, and long-distance relationships, while the instrumentation is both calm and intriguing. Add in the opening lines of the album of “So this is the new year / I don’t feel any different” on ‘The New Year’, and you have an essential listen come January 1.
After a strong first track we move on to ‘Expo ‘86’, a fun song with an energetic pre-chorus build up, followed by a short and explosive chorus. Ben Gibbard kicks this song off by singing “Sometimes I think this cycle never ends / We slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again / And it seems by the time that I have figured what it’s worth / The squeaking of our skin against the steel has gotten worse”. Relating this to the concept of this album, this is about repeatedly getting into a relationship just to have it eventually fall apart. We do not always learn from our mistakes, so when we jump back into a relationship all we do is start the failing process over again. The song closes with these same lines, just as it started, which drives the point home and really adds to the track.
“This is the moment that you know / That you told her that you loved her / But you don’t / You touch her skin and then you think / That she is beautiful / But she don’t mean a thing to me”. A different take on romance and heartbreak is told on ‘Tiny Vessels’ as Ben takes the perspective of the one ending a relationship. It is tough, as sometimes you think you love someone, but in reality it was purely physical. When you make this realization, it can be a hard pill to swallow, especially when you consider the heartbreak your partner will endure when you tell them the truth.
‘Transatlanticism’ is a slower track that builds up in the latter half of the song, with “I need you so much closer” being repeated over and over. When the track reaches its climax, listeners are hit with a repeating chorus of vocals, desperately pleading “So come on, come on”. This wonderful song is brimming with emotion and is easily one of the best in Death Cab’s entire discography.
Things continue to get dialed back on ‘Passenger Seat’, a beautiful track with soft singing and calming piano. Despite the slow tempo and sombre tone, this is one of the only songs on the album where Ben’s lyrics are happy and hopeful in nature. It seems he has finally found his love.
The second last track, ‘We Looked Like Giants’, is another highlight with its high energy and infectious chorus. It was written about something we can all relate to, with Ben saying that “this song is about first love and the newness of the experience we all take fore granted”.
Transatlanticism was one of the first albums that got me into a Midwest emo influenced style of indie rock. I avoided Death Cab for the longest time because I figured it would be “too soft” for me and my high school metalhead mind. This was not the case as I was completely hooked after my first listen and it completely changed my perception what good music can be. Today, this is one of my favourite albums of all time and one of the first I throw on when snow begins to fall.
Favourite Tracks: The New Year, Expo ’86, Transatlanticism, Passenger Seat, We Looked Like Giants
Genre: #IndieRock, #IndiePop, #MidwestEmo
Release Date: October 7, 2003