Death Cab's "Plans"

Death Cab For Cutie's new album, "Plans," arrives in stores today. DCFC signed with Atlantic last year, so they are making the move from indie to major label, with all of the expectations and burdens attendant with that transition. Of course loyal fans (count me in) will be watching for the dreaded sellout, which, if you've read my grand pontifications about pop music in the past, is a concept of which I am skeptical. We should want our favorite bands not only to continue to produce great music, but we should also wish them well. I read the other day that one of my favorite albums of the last decade, DCFC's "We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes," sold something along the lines of 80,000 copies. That might make those of us who bought the album feel like members of a special club, it also pretty much ensures that the guys from the band weren't making squat for several years. So wish them well. "Major label" does not have to equal "sellout."

The Boston Globe has a review here.