After the set, which included the uncharacteristic, but pleasant accompaniment of a bopping synthesizer, the exuberant chatter and jittery energy permeated the place until just into the wee hours. Once again, Death Cab for Cutie gives the people what they want: fully-realized, thrilling pop/rock music with substance and nuance, while also creating an inviting atmosphere for the dedicated and newbie alike. In return, the people couldn’t be happier.

We Have the Facts and Were Voting Yes is Death Cab’s second LP, and comes right on the heels of their debut, Something About Airplanes, a widely-acclaimed effort that made Seattleites wonder what it was in Bellingham’s water that could help produce such greatness. We Have the Facts continues where Airplanes left off and goes further. This time, the music is just as engaging, just as satisfying, but with something shivering and tremendous poured in. Rarely does the recording of an album seem so important and special to the average listener, but its what makes this record such a particular joy. Death Cab guitarist and producer Chris Walla creates welcome surprises with his careful recording style which gives each song an added dimension and depth, as opposed to presenting a simple documentation.

Whatever tinkering was involved in the production of We Have the Facts... was worth it because in the end, Walla’s experiments work. Especially engrossing and profound are Walla’s treatments of the title track and the Company Calls (and Company Calls - Epilogue). Being no expert in sound engineering, I can only say that Walla makes these tunes vary in ambiance so astutely that the listener can suddenly find herself awash in imagery and sound, when just a moment ago, she felt like a mere bystander. Later in the record, a crescendo trips abruptly into something simple and elegant, without missing a beat or seeming awkward. Overall, the atmosphere created by this recording is truly enjoyable and exciting.

Of course, the recording and the music go hand-in-hand and Ben Gibbard's gorgeous vocals, and poignant lyrics (a favorite few from "For What Reason": When your apologies fail to ring true/So slick with that sarcastic slew/Of phrases like, "I thought you knew"/While keeping me in such hot pursuit...), along with the group’s excellent and sturdy musicianship is effective and sparkling. Tracks such as the satisfyingly biting, "For What Reason" and "Lowell, MA" (with its spiky refrain, "I thought you would come to expect more") offer the current and future Death Cab fan more of what to love about the group. These are real songs that have something to say; they aren’t constructed simply to create atmosphere or for mere head-bobability (not that these aspects don’t have their place), but to create music that draws the listener in with real emotion and clarity. It has a powerful energy that a wailing diva could only dream of achieving.

While Something About Airplanes represents some of Death Cab for Cutie’s best work, We Have the Facts and Were Voting Yes is slightly more sophisticated, not only in the recording, but in the songs as well. One can clearly see the growth this band has achieved in the past two years through this record and it is wondrous and charming. As Gibbard has sung before in his solo effort, "I’ve worked hard on this/So don’t touch the tape", its apparent that Death Cab for Cutie’s hard work and steady craftsmanship have paid off. We Have the Facts and Were Voting Yes is a timeless album that is utterly phenomenal.

Email Stephanie Pure

Also at Pandomag.com

Stephanie Pure reviews Harvey Danger, Sanford Arms & Acetylene live at Sit'n Spin on March 3

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