An example of what could go right with a major label. « Plans, » the Atlantic debut (fifth with Barsuk) of the Bellingham, Washington-based quartet Death Cab for Cutie landed at number four on Billboard's Top 200 albums on its release week by shifting 90,000 copies. In comparison, their previous set, the critic-adored, fans-loved Transatlanticism sold 13,000 on its first week, hitting #97 on billboard before exiting the chart on the following week. While Atlantic flexed its marketing muscle (storefront promotions and high mtv rotation & appearances), DCFC did what they do best, make moody, hum-along-friendly music with impossibly romantic lyrics. Add to that: a popular lead single (the anthemic "Soul Meets Body"), countless favorable reviews by critics (from the New York Times to Rolling Stone) and legions of die-hard fans (which is considerably larger ever since their appearance on The OC), it actually would be quite difficult to mess this up.

When listening, most people would probably think about the summer's sleeper hit Such Great Heights by The Postal Service, a side project of Ben Gibbard with Jimmy Tamborello. Not so surprising because if DCFC is a cake then Gibbard (songwriter, vocals) mixes the dough while producer-cum-bandmate Chris Walla bakes it.

Plans starts off with the simmering, sampling rich Marching Bands of Manhattan, followed immediately by the anthemic, sing-along Soul Meets Body, then it mellows down to the lazy end-of-summer by-the-pool music Summer Skin and Different Names for the Same Thing. They went folk on I Will Follow You into the Dark, then the jamming sessions series Your Heart Is an Empty Room, Someday You Will Be Loved, and Crooked Teeth. Granted, the second half of the album isn't as captivating as the first one, but thankfully here comes the gem of the album, the piano-led What Sarah Said. Definitely the best song of the album, immensely lyrical, beautifully melancholic but in the same time touching in its simplicity. The LP ended with calming, slow-paced Brothers on a Hotel Bed and the so-so Stable Song.

To me, the whole album felt like Summer, you make plans, getting all excited about going here and there, then later on after you exhausted yourself all you want to do is just lounging around by the pool. By the end you're sad that it's over but satisfied in the same time cause Autumn is coming with some badly needed change from this hazy summer days.