On Something About Airplanes, Death Cab took a baby step toward what would become their defining sound, smoothing over jittery guitar grooves with Gibbard's salve of a voice (previously a squeak) and slow builds. 

 On Something About Airplanes, Death Cab took a baby step toward what would become their defining sound, smoothing over jittery guitar grooves with Gibbard's salve of a voice (previously a squeak) and slow builds. 

 But the best of that album's tracks, "Company Calls Epilogue" and "405," are fully realized as simple strummers on The Forbidden Love EP, which came out later that year. 

 But the best of that album's tracks, "Company Calls Epilogue" and "405," are fully realized as simple strummers on The Forbidden Love EP, which came out later that year. 

 The critical breakthrough We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes applied the same principle, plus a smattering of psychedelia, to a new batch of songs with better melodies.  

 The critical breakthrough We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes applied the same principle, plus a smattering of psychedelia, to a new batch of songs with better melodies.  

 The five re-recorded cuts from You Can Play These Songs With Chords, subtly streamlined, showcase the band's new emphasis on delicacy over dissonance.  

 The five re-recorded cuts from You Can Play These Songs With Chords, subtly streamlined, showcase the band's new emphasis on delicacy over dissonance.  

 While sometimes nostalgic, as its brilliant name suggests, The Photo Album showcases some of Gibbard's most scathing, not to mention most beautiful, songs. 

 While sometimes nostalgic, as its brilliant name suggests, The Photo Album showcases some of Gibbard's most scathing, not to mention most beautiful, songs. 

 Transatlanticism is a breathtaking exploration of how far heartstrings can stretch before they lose shape. Gibbard plants a land mine in the gently rippling guitar reverb of "Tiny Vessels." 

 Transatlanticism is a breathtaking exploration of how far heartstrings can stretch before they lose shape. Gibbard plants a land mine in the gently rippling guitar reverb of "Tiny Vessels." 

 Death Cab for Cutie made their leap to the big leagues with Plans, their first album for Atlantic Records. They start off grand, singing about stretching their arms around New York City on "Marching Bands of Manhattan." 

 Death Cab for Cutie made their leap to the big leagues with Plans, their first album for Atlantic Records. They start off grand, singing about stretching their arms around New York City on "Marching Bands of Manhattan." 

 Nearly everything about Narrow Stairs is harder: The sounds are harsher, rhythms more complex and lyrics darker. First single "I Will Possess Your Heart" starts with a five-minute instrumental vamp. 

 Nearly everything about Narrow Stairs is harder: The sounds are harsher, rhythms more complex and lyrics darker. First single "I Will Possess Your Heart" starts with a five-minute instrumental vamp.