Watch: Death Cab’s “Grapevine Fires”
Let’s get something straight, there’s nothing more unappealing than using “I” in a news piece. Who the hell cares about the writer, right? Well, let’s make an exception, shall we? Last year, I made the very, very unfortunate mistake of absolutely glossing over what is now one of my favorite songs of all time off of what is inarguably one of last year’s better follow ups. Death Cab for Cutie set the bar high for themselves with last year’s Narrow Stairs, and songs like “Grapevine Fires” just goes to 
show how exceptional they’ve become as both instrumentalists and songwriters. It only makes sense that they’d eventually peg the song a single. Why it took so long is a mystery we’ll never know, apparently.
Inspired by the wildfires across California, Ben Gibbard penned the song throughout his travels in ‘07. With light organ fills and ear soothing vocal harmonies, “Fires” hits the soul right where it’s been fractured and shatters it to pieces. The accompanying video, directed by Walter Robot, the pseudonym for multimedia artist Bill Barminski and writer Christopher Louie, tackles both the subject matter and the overall mood of the song with tearjerking precision. In fact, there’s a moment towards the middle (and you’ll know it) where your body just jolts…and you’re just neutral. It’s hard to describe, and that’s why you’re going to watch it instead.
Don’t forget that the Seattle heart breakers are currently boasting a jaw dropping tour with the likes of Cold War Kids, Ra Ra Riot, and Matt Costa!
Death Cab for Cutie 2009 Tour Dates:
04/07 - Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre *^
04/08 - Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall *^
04/09 - Davidson, NC @ John Belk Arena *^
04/10 - Louisville, KY @ Louisville Palace *^
04/11 - Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre *^
04/12 - Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater *^
04/13 - Omaha, NE @ Holland Theatre *^
04/15 - St. Paul, MN @ Roy Wikings Auditorium *^
04/17 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom *^
04/18 - E. Lansing, MI @ Breslin Events Center *^
04/19 - Waukesha, WI @ Van Male Fieldhouse *^
04/24 - Spokane, WA @ McCarthey Athletic Center *^
04/25 - Boise, ID @ The Morrison Center *^
04/27 - Sacramento, CA @ Memorial Auditorium *^
04/29 - San Diego, CA @ RIMAC Arena *^
05/01 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall ^#
05/02 - New Orleans, LA @ Contemporary Arts Center ^#
05/04 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium ^#
05/05 - Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall ^#
05/06 - Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre ^#
* = w/ Cold War Kids
^ = w/ Ra Ra Riot
# = w/ Matt Costa
Unless you are giving me tour dates or something purely factual, subjectivity is all I care about when it comes to music journalism. Otherwise, I don’t care because it’s meaningless.
just for the record you can legally download the video here… http://walterrobot.com/deathcab/deathcab_final.mov
wow. just wow. great video.
This song is personal since I was evacuated from one of the wildfires in San Diego. fucking horrible time in my life. The feeling of almost losing your home is horrible.
this song gives me goosebums everytime, amazing song… but also amazingly depressing
I kind of feel like you should only ever write about music from the first person.>>
All writing is subjective when it comes down to it; however, you don’t have to write from the first person to come off that way. It just stresses that subjectivity which might be affronting to some. That’s all I meant.
And yeah, Jim, pretty depressing. It’s amazing, though.
I kind of feel like you should only ever write about music from the first person. Trying to write objectively about your opnion is kind of pointless. Sticking to the facts is kind of boring.
Well that was depressing.