Death Cab for Cutie - Kintsugi 2LP

Atlantic recording group Death Cab for Cutie has announced the release of their much-anticipated eighth studio album, Kintsugi, which follows 2011's Grammy-nominated Codes And Keys and marks the group's first new album since the departure last year of founding guitarist/keyboardist/producer Chris Walla. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Interpol), the album takes its title from the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, highlighting cracks rather than hiding them. As such, Kintsugi represents a compassionate aesthetic philosophy in which damage and wear are embraced as part of an object's history.

"Considering what we were going through internally, and with what a lot of the lyrics are about, it had a great deal of resonance for us - the idea of figuring out how to repair breaks and make them a thing of beauty," says bassist Nick Harmer, who suggested the name to singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard and drummer Jason McGerr. "Philosophically, spiritually, emotionally, it seems perfect for this group of songs."

For nearly two decades, Death Cab for Cutie has been hailed as one of contemporary music's most compelling and creative collectives. Born in Bellingham, Washington in 1997, the band followed a long relationship with the Seattle-based independent label, Barsuk, by making their Atlantic Records debut with their fifth studio release, 2005's Plans. The album proved Death Cab for Cutie's popular breakthrough, earning RIAA platinum certification as well as spawning the chart-topping singles, "Soul Meets Body" and "I Will Follow You Into The Dark." The latter track was honored with a Grammy nomination as "Best Pop Performance By Duo Or Group With Vocals," with Plans receiving the nod as "Best Alternative Album."

Now fully affirmed as an era-defining band, Death Cab for Cutie made a stunning #1 debut atop the SoundScan/Billboard 200 with 2008's RIAA gold certified Narrow Stairs. More critical acclaim and two further Grammy nominations followed, including nods for "Best Alternative Album" and "Best Rock Song" (honoring the hit single, "I Will Possess Your Heart"). The Open Door EP was released in 2009, earning DCFC a third consecutive Grammy Award nomination for "Best Alternative Album." Codes And Keys arrived in 2011 and made a top 3 entry on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 before receiving the band's fourth straight Grammy nomination for "Best Alternative Music Album." "You Are A Tourist," the album's first single, also proved a multi-format radio smash, reaching #1 at both Triple A and Modern Rock outlets nationwide - Death Cab for Cutie's first-ever #1 at the latter format.

Vinyl is pressed on two 180-gram LPs (one white, one gold) with an etched D-side all packaged in a gatefold jacket embossed with gold foil. A CD copy of the album is also included inside the LP sleeve.