Album Review: Benjamin Gibbard - Former Lives

Death Cab For Cutie's Benjamin Gibbard once again proves he's just as good solo with his debut self-named album Former Lives. After listening to the album, it should come as no surprise that these twelve tracks were written over quite a long period of time; each track acts as a signpost marking the various paths he's taken in his personal life, completely disparate to his work with the band and obviously much more personal.

Opener Shepherd's Bush Lullaby lasts a meagre fifty seconds, but in that short space of time Gibbard sets the tone for the entire album. He has an amazing gift in that his voice can make something quite mundane sound so beautiful and enticing. Teardrop Windows is not unexpected, but in the best possible sense – it's dulcet, bittersweet, and a real delight.

Bigger Than Love proves that it's not just vocals that sets Gibbard apart. Yes, his voice is amazing and the chorus duet is catching, but the lyrics really make this track before then the beat takes it to a different level again and really adds to the emotion. Lady Adelaide showcases some really emotive songwriting; as with all the tracks on this album it sounds reasonably upbeat, but the lyrics are so full of woe as he sings of a woman who “waited all those years for those three words that never reached her ears, they just went unheard”.

There's no other way to say it – the album is amazing. And how could it not be? Gibbard just has one of those voices that makes you feel like everything's going to be okay, even if it's not. Former Lives will not disappoint die-hard Death Cab fans and should definitely earn him a whole new fanbase as well.