twenty-something

There's something about the new Death Cab for Cutie song that I can't get enough of. At eight minutes and thirty-five seconds, "I Will Possess Your Heart" is an unlikely single -- it's length a definite turn-off, especially since Ben Gibbard's vocals don't come in until 4:35, well over half-way through the track. But like the lyrics instruct, you gotta spend some time, love, you gotta spend some time with the song. Luckily, I have a hellish commute and I added the track to my spring driving playlist, forcing me to listen and quickly fall in love.

It opens straight out of 1994, like a lost alternarock song that would've been at home on alt radio with the titans of fourteen years ago -- Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Live. I would've listened to and loved this early in high school and that fact surprisingly doesn't hurt the song, it makes it. Retro fits Death Cab well (and I'd much rather be reminded of '94 than '04, as the band usually evokes thoughts of the dearly departed The O.C. for me).