Ye Olde Stereogum is spending this whole week doing a track-a-day premiere of Death Cab's new Narrow Stairs companion The Open Door EP. Monday was Track 1 from the EP "Little Bribes"; yesterday was "A Diamond and a Tether"; and today they have posted "My Mirror Speaks." Now all you've got to look forward to--besides Ben Gibbard possessing your heart and/or following you into the dark--is "I Was Once a Loyal Lover" and a demo of "Talking Bird." The Open Door is available digitally next Tuesday, with a CD release next month. more ›

Come March 31st, Death Cab fans will have some new music to possess their sensitive little hearts. The Open Door will feature four previously unreleased songs recorded during the Narrow Stairs sessions and a demo version of "Talking Bird," with Gibbard showing off his ukulele skillz. The new EP will be available online March 31st, on tour April 7th, and in stores April 14th. The band has also announced their Spring tour schedule. Thus far, the closest to Seattle they'll be is April 22nd at the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham (with Ra Ra Riot), and July 18th at Marymoor Park in Redmond (with Ra Ra Riot and The New Pornographers). more ›

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie tells SPIN.com that the next album will be a lot "softer" than Narrow Stairs, which he says was a dark and exhausting album to create. In return, SPIN calls him a 'broken-hearted bard,' which sounds like an exhausting way to live--even before taking on an ambitiously epic musical project. Maybe it's time to make another electronic indie pop record. (Note to Gibbard: Please reconsider your hesitancy and give the people what they want!) more ›

If you haven't listened to Chicago Public Radio's Sound Opinions before, it's a show hosted by two well-respected music critics/dorks (Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot). Each week they have intelligent, candid discussions on popular music. Often, they have guests and these guests perform songs and get chatty with Jim and Greg. more ›

That is, if you've got an extra eight and a half minutes in your pocket. more ›