Death Cab for Cutie - Jane’s Addiction | Song reviews

“You Are a Tourist”
Death Cab for Cutie

At some point deep in its career, a band risks becoming a parody of itself. For Death Cab for Cutie, that moment comes as soon as boy scout Ben Gibbard opens his mouth on “You Are a Tourist.” He wanly bellows like Kermit the Frog, “When there’s a burning in your heart.” The band has always approached songcraft like it was manufacturing felt owl dolls for Etsy.com, but here Gibbard is sickeningly sweeter and twee-er than a Hello Kitty weeping Krispie Kremes for tears. Chris Walla, who sits alongside John Frusciante and Tommy Stinson as one of rock’s leading Redeeming Factors, scrambles to make it sound interesting. The guitarist-producer taps away at pianos, swirls keyboards around in the mix and plucks a nifty and breezy, if a little too Modest Mousey, indie riff. Over a brisk, bouncy (I dare not say “funky”) rhythm, it all almost saves the affair. But Gibbard is milk to Walla’s bran flakes.