No major disaster - DCFC remain with the good

Do not worry - the wonderful Death Cab For Cutie, with their transition from mini-label Barsuk to major Atlantic / Warner not mutated to U2 or Coldplay, not even to REM This is still fine, intelligent indie pop rock, only that this time he more people will be brought to the stage as the five previous albums to "Transatlanticism".
Ben Gibbard, Chris Walla and Co. have achieved with "plan" another level of refinement of their sound, have posted a beautiful, intimate, heart take more songs than before, yet tender and produces translucent - and thus at the end despite the change to " industry "exceeded without any servile obeisance or awkward compromises itself.
So their eleven new guitar and Pianopop songs are partly deeply sad, but without slipping into ever Tearful a Chris Martin (with "X & Y"). Again and again, see DCFC interesting twists or sounds that break the gentle flow of the grandiose melodies surprising - in "Summer Skin" about an innovative drum loop, in "Different names ..." a crackling fire in the background, in "Brothers on a Hotel Bed "many small Klangtüfteleien that make the piece for headphone Event. And so on.
In general we can not praise the skills of the four-piece band enough - as virtuoso musicians are at work, and Ben Gibbards highly melodic voice floats as the most beautiful instrument above everything. A dreamy mood is spreading, until you realize that Gibbard death and grief, but also comfort and deepest sympathy treats as subjects - lyrically partly rather hard to digest (this also speaks the way, however, that have DCFC Atlantic / Warner bend commercially let).
With "Soul Meets Body" - a New Order-inspired, almost danceable song - keeps "Plan" even a potential hit single ready. If for DCFC but in the end but not a band for the great masses are - does not matter. Lovers of fine pop music for brain and soul are the guys from the state of Washington continues to press her heart and guard this great CD as a good friend in her record collection.