Their new album is a sort of return to form for the band with some new surprises. A lot of the melodies and arrangements echo that of their 2003 hit record Transatlanticism. Especially on songs like ‘Autumn Love’ with its descending guitar chords and odd drumming pattern, and ‘Your Hurricane’ which sounds very similar to ‘Death Of An Interior Decorator’.
Gibbard also tries to cash in on the recent ‘80s nostalgia bug. ‘When We Drive’ is a misty-eyed ballad drenched in neon lights. Think ‘I’m On Fire’ by Springsteen but for the millennial generation. ‘You Moved Away’ exists somewhere in the same decade, but actually sounds exciting. The growing synth completely chokes Gibbard as he sings about friendships ending.
‘I Dreamt We Spoke Again’ isn’t a bad single either. The bulbous guitar hook is pleasant, and the sequenced tom-tom drum loop played during the song’s chorus adds colour to the mix. ‘Gold Rush’ samples a 1972 Yoko Ono song ‘Mind Train’. The bustling sample makes for an interesting foundation but the song ends up sounding claustrophobic.
Overall, Thank You for Today has some genuinely beautiful moments that recapture Death Cab’s original magic. But with a handful of middle-of-the-road songs, it ends up sounding uneven.
6/10
