Attack of the Killer Track! is a series that explores tracks from artists from a variety of genres. Some of the tracks were singles, some of them were obscure b-sides or long forgotten album tracks. One thing is certain – all of them are killer tracks.
Up through 2003’s Transatlanticism, Bellingham, WA’s Death Cab For Cutie held near universal hipster acclaim. A perfect merging of Pac NW aggression and emo inspired angst, the band slotted nicely into the early 00’s indie elitist aesthetic. That seemed to change with the major label release of their 2005 album Plans. The band didn’t alter their sound too much, yet seemed to lose some of the underground fans who had helped them breakthrough to the mainstream. No matter, the band gained even more fans. For me personally, Plans was almost a perfect album all the way through. The single I Will Follow You into the Dark touches upon the afterlife, connecting with loved ones, and the feeling of trying to find some sort of spiritual peace. It isn’t necessarily a romantic love – it could be the deep bond of friendship or that special connection you have with someone. An acoustic lament, it is my favorite song from the album. Curiously, the song was one of Death Cab For Cutie’s lowest charting singles, but their highest selling. Strange fact – the 2012 indie film Into The Dark starring Mischa Barton (The OC) was named after this song. Lyrically, the song is one of the strongest the band has ever offered, in particular the opening verse. “Love of mine, some day you will die / But I’ll be close behind / I’ll follow you into the dark / No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white / Just our hands clasped so tight / Waiting for the hint of a spark”. I finally had a chance to see this song performed live some years ago in Everett, WA (opening for Neil Young), and it was as glorious as the video embedded below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP7tdvGgV_Y]