An eight-and-a-half minute single? Really Death Cab?
Indie group Death Cab for Cutie has already shown some bold moves on their new record, “Narrow Stairs.” It remains to be seen whether its epic tracklist will entice or alienate their fanbase.
“I Will Possess Your Heart,” the first single off the new record, is a track driven by Nick Harmer’s steady bass line. The intro alone is almost five minutes long: just when you think you’ll hear some vocals, the beat goes on. Ben Gibbard’s smooth voice suddenly appears with repetitive lines, making “…Heart” a simple and satisfying track.
The band was reportedly influenced by heavy metal and the synth-punk band Brainiac while making “Narrow Stairs.”
The Last Shadow Puppets
“The Age of Understatement”
Available Now
Domino Records
Crazy things can happen on a rock ’n’ roll tour. Sometimes, just sometimes, a great side project can come out of it all.
The Last Shadow Puppets is such for Arctic Monkeys’ frontman Alex Turner and Miles Kane of The Rebels. Their collaboration began in late 2007, after the duo met on tour.
Turner and Kane, both 22, created “…Understatement” out of a passion for music, bringing energy and youth to each song.
The duo’s British accents pop out of every tune, with most of the vocals sung in unison. Their voices complement one another: sounding just “off” enough to give it an edge.
“…Understatement,” initially recorded in France, features string arrangements from the London Metropolitan Orchestra. The Last Shadow Puppets found inspiration from a fellow Brit, David Bowie. His early material influenced them so much that they covered his “In the Heat of the Morning” on a B-side.
The music video for the album’s title track was shot entirely in Russia and features a figure skater, an Orthodox priest and Soviet tanks.
Scarlett Johansson
“Anywhere I Lay My Head”
May 20
Atco/Rhino Records
Sorry Lindsay Lohan, you’re not the only starlet/singer in town anymore. ScarJo is making a name for herself as a chanteuse with “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” an album that just might be good.
Her album already sounds impressive, featuring vocals from the legendary David Bowie, guitar from the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Nick Zinner and the blessing of Tom Waits.
“Anywhere I Lay My Head” is essentially a disc of Tom Waits covers, ten in all. The one original track on the record is “Song for Jo.”
“Fallin’ Down” and “Fannin’ Street” have guest vocals from Bowie, adding an extra special twist to the covers.
Johansson recorded the album in summer 2007 at Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana.
The actress’ previous musical experience includes a stint performing with Jesus and Mary Chain last year at the Coachella music festival. Johansson also lent her vocals to a charity album track in 2006.
