Death Cab, 来自华盛顿柏林汉姆的四人Indie Pop乐团Death Cab for Cutie成立于1997年，默默无闻两年之后他们签到了独立厂牌Barsuk（俄语獾熊的意思），并且成功的推出了三张专辑。去年10月份发行的这张《Transatlanticism》（横贯大西洋主义）是他们在Barsuk旗下发行的第四张录音室作品了，不知道他能否续写三年前专辑《We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes》的辉煌。乐队的名字来自英国六十年代末著名迷幻乐队The Bonzo Dog Band的处女作专辑《Gorilla》里的一首歌的名字，他们不愿对此解释过多，只说去听听那首歌就知道了。Death Cab for Cutie的才华在他们的首张专辑里《Something About Airplanes》里就崭露头角，一曲迷幻气息浓厚的《President Of What》里的风琴和唱腔犹如The Doors的重显就让人们大吃一惊。可是这只是乐队对自己过去的怀念罢了，乐队于2000年发行的专辑《We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes》以全新的Indie Pop姿态示人，专辑中的歌曲清新馍人。
多数Death Cab for Cutie的歌都像是歌者的自述，他讲的都是生活中的领悟和对未来的美好憧憬。乐队主唱Ben Gibbard说：“我们的歌曲是真诚的，也许我们会为丘比特的冷落而忧心忡忡，也许我们不会把痛苦和听众分享，但是我们只是想唱一些快乐的歌曲与别人分享。”可是不幸在2000年的夏天降临到乐队身上，一连串的事故让这几个年轻人心灰意冷，先是乐队因为经理人的问题产生了激烈的矛盾，然后鼓手Nathan Good的离开让乐队几乎解散。好在最后乐队克服了这些矛盾，他们找来了新的鼓手Michael Schorr并且录制了一张纪念这段经历的EP《Forbidden Love》。2003年出版这张专辑《Transatlanticism》之前，乐队又加入了新的成员，也许这对他们来说是一个新的开始.
Bellingham, WA, indie pop quartet Death Cab for Cutie began in 1997 as the solo project of singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard, who previously recorded under the name All-Time Quarterback. The underground success of the cassette You Can Play These Songs Chords inspired Gibbard to recruit a full-time band including guitarist/organist Christopher Walla (who recorded the early DCFC sessions as well), bassist Nick Harmer, and drummer Nathan Good, and in the summer of 1998, Death Cab for Cutie issued their debut LP, Something About Airplanes, to much acclaim from indie circles. Just prior to completion of the 2000 follow-up We Have the Facts and Were Voting Yes, Good left the group and was replaced by drummer Michael Schorr. In fall 2000, the band released the Forbidden Love EP. A solid selection of new cuts were found on The Photo Album the next year. In 2003, Eureka Farms Jason McGerr joined the group and the bands stunning fourth album Transatlanticism appeared in October. While touring in support of that album in spring 2004, Death Cab For Cutie recorded seven brand new tracks. The John Byrd E.P., which was named for the bands touring sound engineer John Byrd, was issued on Barsuk in March 2005. After a lengthy courtship with Barsuk, the group inked a deal with Atlantic and released their label debut, Plans, in August of 2005. It sold nearly 90,000 copies during its first week of release, entering the US album chart at number four.