𝕿𝖍𝖔𝖗𝖓 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍

        Death Cab for Cutie is an alternative rock band started by Benjamin Gibbard. Formed in 1997, they released their first album, Something About Airplanes, in 1998. Since then, they’ve come out with ten more albums, five EPs, and a few singles. But we’re not here to talk about Death Cab for Cutie the band. We’re here to talk about Death Cab for Cutie’s Plans.
        Plans was their fifth album. It was also the first album of theirs that I bought—though I did have a hard time deciding between it and Kintsugi. This year, the album turns 20 years old. To celebrate its birth year, we’re going to dedicate today to talking about it. Specifically, we’re going to rank them from ones I love the most to ones I like the least. I am not a music critic by any means, but I see no reason why I can’t share anyway.
        Let’s jump into it!

1. Brothers on a Hotel Bed

Track 10 on the official album, Brothers on a Hotel Bed, quickly stole my heart and has yet to give it back. It’s a gentle song that I seek out frequently and consistently have playing in my head. Its the first one to come to mind when I think of Plans.

2. Summer Skin

This is one that is covered in so much nostalgia that it deserves it’s own cinematic filter. Its a beautiful track that lives rent-free in my head every time the end of summer, or anything else, approaches. Nothing will ever make me disdain it.

3. What Sarah Said

As someone who has to worry about sudden death, it’s hard to not lean into What Sarah Said. This track touches on complexities; both literally and metaphorically. It’s strong, emotional, and generally beautiful.

4. Crooked Teeth

As much as I love this one, I need to be honest—it does not belong on this album. Every time I want to listen to it, I first find myself looking at Codes and Keys, expecting to see it next to Underneath The Sycamore. It feels out of place, but maybe that’s why I fell so heavily in love with it in the first place.

5. Marching Bands of Manhattan

The first track on this album, Marching Bands of Manhattan, has a sound to it that I can only think to describe as “timeless”. The music is beautiful with moving lyrics. I play it often.

6. Soul Meets Body

Initially my absolute favourite, this song has been slowly making its way down my list. The more you listen to it, the more boring it becomes. It feels like there isn’t quite enough variation in it to make it a strong, “on repeat” track. However, it is still a beautiful song and deserves to be no lower than #6.

7. Someday You Will Be Loved

This one brings along with it feelings of complication. It’s a wonderful song, but it does have a cruel tone to it. Dismissive of hard emotions after a heartbreak, it almost makes you want to hate Gibbard. However, the music makes up for it plenty.

8.Your Heart is an Empty Room

Whenever I listen to Plans in chronological order, the placement of this song throws me off. It comes right after I Will Follow You Into the Dark, which doesn’t make sense to me in terms of sound and words. However, there is nothing about this song that is deserving of a lower ranking. Its a great song in it’s own right. It’s rather comforting, in a way.

9. Different Names For The Same Thing

If someone dares to say those words, this song instantly starts playing in my head. I have no complaints about it, really. The track’s biggest downfall is that its easily forgettable. It doesn’t live in the back of my brain like most of the other songs in this album. For that reason, the 9 slot is the best place for it.

10. Stable Song

I have no idea if this song is good or not. All I know about it is that it’s so easy to fall into that I didn’t even realise I was listening to it. I just noticed the silence when it ended. It has its place on the album. Maybe that place should have been closer to the start, though.

11. I Will Follow You Into The Dark

This is perhaps my most controversial music opinion. Everyone I know knows and loves this song. For good reason too—it’s a good song. I love the way that the music and lyrics seem to dance with each other. However, perhaps it is too repetitive. It’s the only song on the album that I consistently skip after the first minute. It could have been better.

        I had a lot of fun compiling this list, I won’t lie. It gave me an excuse to listen to the entirety of Plans again, and I would never pass that up. Maybe it’s because it’s the first Death Cab for Cutie album that I ever listened to, or maybe it’s because I’m a little emo. Either way, Plans has a special place in my heart. Here’s to it’s 25th anniversary—a few months early because I didn’t want to wait until August to post this. If you don’t know Death Cab for Cutie yet, go give them a listen. You will not regret it.