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In 1997, an engineering student from Bellingham, WA, named Ben Gibbard recorded a cassette tape of nine songs, entitling the work You Can Play These Songs With Chords. The cassette was a large underground hit, so Gibbard decided to form a band with guitarist/organist Christopher Walla, drummer Nathan Good (later replaced by Michael Schorr) and bassist Nick Harmer. The group named themselves Death Cab for Cutie (in reference to a song performed by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film) and, in 1998, they released their first indie debut LP, Something About Airplanes. Within the next five years, they went on to release three full length independent albums and an EP, the most highly acclaimed being 2003's Transatlanticism (at which time they were also joined by percussionist Jason McGerr). After the huge success of Transatlanticism (which contained the acclaimed songs "The New Year" and "The Sound of Settling") Death Cab's popularity spread like wildfire. They toured Japan and Australia, found themselves on numerous magazine covers and were featured on the hit TV show The OC. In 2004, they signed with Atlantic records and released their major label debut album, Plans, which entered the US charts at number 4 and features the single "Soul Meets Body." DCFC have clearly established themselves as one of the most successful indie pop-rock bands of the late '90s and ‘00s, helping to bring to the fore the once underground indie sound.

Similar Artists:
Modest Mouse, Pedro the Lion, Elliot Smith, Sunny Day Real Estate, Postal Service

In 1997, an engineering student from Bellingham, WA, named Ben Gibbard recorded a cassette tape of nine songs, entitling the work You Can Play These Songs With Chords. The cassette was a large underground hit, so Gibbard decided to form a band with guitarist/organist Christopher Walla, drummer Nathan Good (later replaced by Michael Schorr) and bassist Nick Harmer. The group named themselves Death Cab for Cutie (in reference to a song performed by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film) and, in 1998, they released their first indie debut LP, Something About Airplanes. Within the next five years, they went on to release three full length independent albums and an EP, the most highly acclaimed being 2003's Transatlanticism (at which time they were also joined by percussionist Jason McGerr). After the huge success of Transatlanticism (which contained the acclaimed songs "The New Year" and "The Sound of Settling") Death Cab's popularity spread like wildfire. They toured Japan and Australia, found themselves on numerous magazine covers and were featured on the hit TV show The OC. In 2004, they signed with Atlantic records and released their major label debut album, Plans, which entered the US charts at number 4 and features the single "Soul Meets Body." DCFC have clearly established themselves as one of the most successful indie pop-rock bands of the late '90s and ‘00s, helping to bring to the fore the once underground indie sound.

Similar Artists:
Modest Mouse, Pedro the Lion, Elliot Smith, Sunny Day Real Estate, Postal Service

Bellingham, WA, indie pop quartet Death Cab for Cutie began in 1997 as the solo project of singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard, who previously recorded under the name All-Time Quarterback. The underground success of the cassette You Can Play These Songs' Chords inspired Gibbard to recruit a full-time band including guitarist/organist Christopher Walla (who recorded the early DCFC sessions as well), bassist Nick Harmer, and drummer Nathan Good, and in the summer of 1998, Death Cab for Cutie issued their debut LP, Something About Airplanes, to much acclaim from indie circles. Just prior to completion of the 2000 follow-up We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, Good left the group and was replaced by drummer Michael Schorr. In fall 2000, the band released the Forbidden Love EP. A solid selection of new cuts were found on The Photo Album the next year. In 2003, Eureka Farm's Jason McGerr joined the group and the band's stunning fourth album Transatlanticism appeared in October. While touring in support of that album in spring 2004, Death Cab For Cutie recorded seven brand new tracks. The John Byrd E.P., which was named for the band's touring sound engineer John Byrd, was issued on Barsuk in March 2005. After a lengthy courtship with Barsuk, the group inked a deal with Atlantic and released their label debut, Plans, in August of 2005. It sold nearly 90,000 copies during its first week of release, entering the US album chart at number four. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

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