Death Cab for CutieBest Death Cab for Cutie Albums Ranked

I Built You a Tower

pastemagazine

8.5

“The indie-rock kings’ eleventh album is a song cycle that frequently rivals the most poignant and electrifying peaks of their breakout era of the 2000s.”

Thank You for Today

pastemagazine

8.1

“As a touchstone indie band of the 2000s, Death Cab For Cutie crafted sensitive, wistful songs filled with earnest feeling. Starkly confessional and filled with a melancholy much-appreciated by the passing “emo” scene, their classic albums have aged well, but often sound of their time. With eight other studio albums under their belt and 20 years as a band, Thank You for Today surprises by offering ”

Something About Airplanes

pitchfork

8.1

“This Barsuk reissue features some ho-hum selections from Death Cab's first live show and a Smiths cover, but its real draw is the chance to re-evaluate a band that for many is still considered a dealbreaker.”

I Built You a Tower

thelineofbestfit

8.0

“Death Cab for Cutie look forwards on I Built You a Tower”

I Built You a Tower

allmusic

8.0

“The invigorated 11th set from the American indie stalwarts injects a free spirit and some urgency back into their catalog.”

Asphalt Meadows

nme

8.0

“It can’t be easy to be one of those bands so tightly tied to teenage longing and adolescent discovery. “Do not insult Death Cab!,” cried Seth Cohen in shiny US coming-of-age drama The O.C. Still, the college rock formula planted Washington rockers into the hearts of a generation for life. But what happens when those bands grow up? The recently reunited Bright Eyes made up for a near-decade away w”

Narrow Stairs

birdorcages

10

“This is a no-skip record. The real, human stories it tells coupled with Chris Walla’s iconic production make this my favorite Death Cab record, and arguably their BEST record (sorry Transatlanticism, but I think this one is their opus). It takes fresh steps into an “indie” genre that weren’t ever seen before, taking influence from “slow metal and synth-punk” ( - Ben Gibbard) to create a true masterpiece that continues to withstand the test of time. I come back to this album very often. I always say the best music comes from a true “raw emotion” mindset (it’s what makes many of Fleetwood Mac’s songs so iconic) and that idea is put on full display here. Coming out when I was just entering high school, this album has followed me through many phases of my life - and has been so relatable in many different ways.”