Former Lives (CD)


Benjamin Gibbard

Currently Unavailable
$13.98
SHIPS FREE in U.S.
Also available in: LP

Amoeba Review

10/15/2012

Before The Postal Service, before people spent their first sentences talking about him by referring to the person to whom he was married, Benjamin Gibbard was a fine songwriter and the leader of Death Cab for Cutie, who made several great albums of heartfelt, intricate indie pop before hitting it big. Former Lives seems a bit to recast Gibbard (now Benjamin, not Ben) as someone known first and foremost for his skills as a singer and songwriter. He succeeds admirably by focusing on the songs themselves, only dressing them up to maintain interest, as on a guest spot by Aimee Mann that leads the rousing “Bigger Than Love” or the Mariachi touches of “Something’s Rattling (Cowpoke).” First single “Teardrop Windows” pairs prime Death Cab heart-on-sleeve romanticism with Former Lives’ tendency toward country flourish, and the result is a slab of harmonic power-pop that recalls Big Star and Teenage Fanclub. Those harmonies come in handy on a song like “Duncan, Where Have You Gone?,” a piano-led power ballad that ranks among Gibbard’s best. Former Lives finds Gibbard in a fine place, not cut from his past but referencing it while making something bright and new.

Read More


Track Listing



Disc 1 Titles
Artist
Length
1.
Shepherd's Bush Lullaby 		Benjamin Gibbard 00:50
2.
Dream Song 		Benjamin Gibbard 03:33
3.
Teardrop Windows 		Benjamin Gibbard 02:47
4.
Bigger Than Love 		Benjamin Gibbard 04:47
5.
Lily 		Benjamin Gibbard 02:00
6.
Something's Rattling (Cowpoke) 		Benjamin Gibbard 03:51
7.
Duncan, Where Have You Gone? 		Benjamin Gibbard 03:46
8.
Oh, Woe 		Benjamin Gibbard 02:50
9.
A Hard One to Know 		Benjamin Gibbard 02:40
10.
Lady Adelaide 		Benjamin Gibbard 03:33
11.
Broken Yolk in Western Sky 		Benjamin Gibbard 03:32
12.
I'm Building a Fire 		Benjamin Gibbard 02:33

Currently Unavailable
$13.98
SHIPS FREE in U.S.
Also available in: LP
15% Off Everything
Always Free Shipping on Amoeba.com
Amoeba Accepts Paypal - Start Digging!

Register


New customers, create your Amoeba.com account here. Its quick and easy!


Register Close

Register

Become a member of Amoeba.com. It's easy and quick!

All fields required.

An error has occured - see below:

Already have an account? Log in.

Close

Forgot Password






To reset your password, enter your registration e-mail address.




Close

Forgot Username





Enter your registration e-mail address and we'll send you your username.




Close

Amoeba Newsletter Sign Up

Submit
Close