chirst's indie rock cocoon - 'cath' by death cab for cutie (2008)

death cab for cutie have featured on chirstamaphone many times before, so it's well past overdue that they get a mention in the indie rock cocoon

i've already posted the clips from the hall of justice sessions for 'talking bird' and 'i will possess your heart', so i've chosen THIS song to showcase my current favourite album of theirs, 'narrow stairs' (2008) (oh look, the indie rock cocoon ventures well out of it's 1990's comfort zone, beware!)

i was sprung by my brother a few months ago, with this song cranked up on the stereo in my cell, playing my best indie rock air guitar and singing my little indie rock heart out with my best seattle accent. we both don't speak of this. ever. in fact, it's like it never happened

i discovered death cab for cutie in 2006, in the shed at the back of ravelston st where we had a black hole set up - i'd go and drink wine, smoke marlboro lights and watch c4 while i handily multitasked, getting my washing dried and talking on the phone. hours would go by, unaccounted for. the death cab for cutie song that hooked me was 'i will follow you into the dark', which is from 2005's 'plans'. vi va ce in hanover st also have it on their karaoke menu, and i've done a reasonable version of it on several occasions. no, no, thank YOU

death cab for cutie's lyrics change from the poignant and persistent flavour of 'i will possess your heart' ("how i wish you could see the potential of you and me, it's like a book elegantly bound, but in a language that you can't read") to that of the reluctant cad apologising for his behaviour in 'someday you will be loved' ("you'll be loved, you'll be loved, like you never have known, and the memories of me will seem more like bad dreams"). there's also the guy who in 'you can do better than me' who "thinks of leaving, but it's something i'll never do, cause you can do better than me, but i can't do better than you"

death cab for cutie have deceptively simple lyrics that just burrow into your brain. you'll find yourself singing them to yourself at all times of the day. supporting these delicious words are a big, dark chocolate bass line, tinkling keyboards and thick velvet drums. benjamin gibbard is the quintessential indie rock geek, with immense cuteness lurking behind his thick rimmed glasses. his voice is driving and insistent, but gentle and delicate when the song requires

i love this song, 'cath'. i especially love the line "she holds a smile as one would hold a crying child". i really believe that mainsteam pop doesn't deliver the same calibre of lyricism that indie rock/pop serves up in abundance, repeatedly

i have a friend named cath, too. and i always think of her when i listen to this song, even though it doesn't match her or her circumstances even remotely. she's an awesome, strong and terribly funny woman who believes in herself. i don't think she'd find herself in the position of the cath of this song

personally, this song serves as something of a warning for me. times have been a little tough recently, and by recently i mean the last couple of years, give or take. i don't want to have "closed the door, on so many men who would have loved you more" and chosen someone less than ideal

it's hard though, when "your heart was dying fast and you didn't know what to do"

ben gibbard - tell me what to do. i'll believe you over dr phil, any day of the week