Atlantic

Thirteen years and seven albums into a career that has included Grammy nominations, chart topping singles and frontman Ben Gibbard’s marriage to movie star/singer Zooey Deschanel, it makes sense that Death Cab for Cutie’s Codes and Keys feels less precious and overtly melancholy than previous efforts (success and love will do that). The band utilizes more electronics, strings and vintage keyboards and fewer guitars, and you can hear the ambient Brian Eno influence that band members have alluded to in the press. But the indie-pop quartet has not abandoned its roots – just modified them. Gibbard’s vocals are still intact and there’s an emotional resonance that is very Death Cab, but just a slightly more experimental, eclectic and happier version. Kudos to the band for not relying on what’s worked and pushing into new terrain.