The first single from Death Cab for Cutie’s upcoming ‘Codes and Keys’ album has been released.
‘You Are A Tourist’ is a light-hearted, upbeat sound that scraps the old reliance on acoustic guitar riffs that fans may be used to. Over a Cure-esque bass line and a guitar delay that brings to mind new-wave like Joy Division or New Order, Ben Gibbard warns “If there’s a burning in your heart, don’t be alarmed”.
The harmonies familiarize more with Gibbard’s side-project The Postal Service as he repeats: “This fire grows higher”.
Unlike songs from their 2008 album Narrow Stairs, the melancholy lyrics are backed by a hopeful chord arrangement. It definitely makes for a great morning song.
Over the marching of drums and orgasm of keyboards, Gibbard comforts the listener: “If you feel like a tourist in the city you’re born in, it’s time to go / and if find your destination, there’s so many different places to call home.”
Spin reported that the band will be kicking off a short North American trek May 18 in Toronto, wrapping it up about three weeks later. The Lonely Forest will open most of the tour, and Death Cab will play a few dates with Bright Eyes as well.
For those not able to make it to any of the shows, the Death Cab live experience will be released on a new live DVD: Live at the Mt. Baker Theatre that will be released on the same day as their new album. It will showcase performances from two shows that the band played in Bellingham, Washington back in April 2009. And yes, it was their old stomping grounds.
Check out ‘You Are a Tourist’ here. You can hear the rest of the album when ‘Codes & Keys’ is released May 31st.
The tracklisting for ‘Codes and Key’s is:
‘Home Is A Fire’
‘Codes And Keys’
‘Some Boys’
‘Doors Unlocked And Open’
‘You Are A Tourist’
‘Unobstructed Views’
‘Monday Morning’
‘Portable Television’
‘Underneath The Sycamore’
‘St Peter’s Cathedral’
‘Stay Young, Go Dancing’
