#7 – Kintsugi (2015)

As overlooked as this album seems to be, Kintsugi is probably one of the most important releases the band has ever made. 

Compared to the unwavering happiness that filled the sound of Codes and Keys, 2015’s Kintsugi reveals a different side of Ben Gibbard at his most emotionally vulnerable point. 

During the time between Codes and Keys and Kintusgi, two major events happened that greatly affected the band – Zooey Deschanel divorced Ben Gibbard, and Chris Walla, the band’s longtime guitarist, announced that he was leaving for good. 

Lyrically, this album is blemished with heartbreak. Nearly every song is blatantly about Ben’s ex-wife, and as depressing as it is, it can also be pretty tough to listen to. The album’s opener, “No Room In Frame” is probably one of the greatest opening tracks of any Death Cab record with some of the most poignant lyrics that Gibbard has ever put out: “And I guess it’s not a failure we could help / And we’ll both go on to get lonely with someone else.”

Sonically, the album’s sound is even more convoluted than Gibbard’s lyrics. Being that the departed Chris Walla was also the band’s producer, most of the tracks on Kintsugi sound nothing like any material the band had released before. While Walla did make some contributions to the album, the band still had to find a new direction to go in, and this record sees them dip their toes into the water of the unknown. 

Regardless of any personal and musical obstacles that were surmounted for this record to be made, Kintsugi doesn’t have much to brag about. It’s an important release for the band, but for the average listener, this album is unimpressively average. 

Best Song: No Room in Frame

Worst Song: El Dorado