With a name like Death Cab for Cutie, it’s hard for music fans to forget that such a band existed. More importantly, with a slew of hit songs, Death Cab for Cutie has been impossible for anyone to forget well over a decade after they got their big break and hit their peak. They’ve become one of those bands with a sound that’s always en vogue and songs that always strike a chord. On top of that, Death Cab for Cutie is still making new music, releasing another album every few years. With a slew of timeless classics and new songs always being thrown into the mix, Death Cab for Cutie is still a joy to see in person for anyone who loves great melodies and lyrics that can tug at their heartstrings.

On the Screen

In a testament to the 21st century, Death Cab for Cutie owes much of its success to movies and TV. Like the classic narrative of rock bands, the group struggled for several years and didn’t find much mainstream success with their early albums. But that started to change when fans started to hear Death Cab songs on TV shows like The OC and Six Feet Under, as well as movies like Easy A and Wedding Crashers. It allowed a massive audience to be introduced to the band’s melodic sounds and catchy lyrics through songs like “Title Registration” and “The Sound of Settling.” The hits kept coming from there with dramatic arrangements like “I Will Follow You into the Dark,” “Crooked Teeth,” and “Soul Meets Body,” continuing to connect with audiences, making Death Cab for Cutie one of the top pop-rock acts in the world.

Changes

Like most bands, Death Cab for Cutie has not been immune to lineup changes over the years. When longtime songwriter and guitarist Chris Walla left the band in 2014, it was a major blow to the group, with Walla being responsible for writing some of their best hits. But what didn’t kill them has only made them stronger. Ben Gibbard, who founded the band, is still leading the way, helping to make Death Cab the same band that fans fell in love with so many years ago. All these years later, fans who watch Death Cab for Cutie perform live are still getting the same band they’ve always been and the same songs that made Death Cab both a commercial and critical success.