photo by Dave Lichterman
Bobbing for hits. Though Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard was making light of the his band’s songwriting process during his interview with KEXP’s Stevie Zoom, the fact is, with all the songs he’s written over nearly the past decade, he’d accumulated enough songs he’s grown fond of but never developed with his bandmates for one reason or another. Eventually, he couldn’t resist turing those apples to pie (his metaphor, not ours), and thus Former Lives, his solo debut, took shape. Elsewhere, he’d said: “These songs span eight years, three relationships, living in two different places, drinking then not drinking. They’re a side story, not a new chapter.” But surely, it’s also an opportunity to stretch out, try a few different influences and styles, even invite a few friends, like guest vocalist Aimee Mann. Recently, Ben Gibbard stopped by KEXP to perform live versions of the first two singles from his debut, the Western remake “Something’s Rattling (Cowpoke)” and “Teardrop Windows,” a song dedicated to Seattle’s historic Smith Tower. Watch the videos here:
