Chris Walla: Field Manual

Label: Barsuk

While Chris Walla may be Death Cab for Cutie’s guitarist, not its frontman, his solo debut reveals the extent to which he is responsible for creating and shaping the band’s sound. For the most part, Field Manual plays like a follow-up to Plans, delivering track after track of gloriously catchy, sensitive pop with vocals that are surprisingly similar to those of Ben Gibbard, although not quite as precious. The mid-tempo “Sing Again” and upbeat “Geometry &c.” and “Everyone Needs A Home” are all irresistible thanks to their toe-tapping rhythms and instantly memorable vocal melodies. On the more mellow side, “A Bird Is a Song” builds to a gorgeous climax with the refrain “keep your feathers clean and dry,” and “Everybody On” features a strong guitar riff that lends it a darker vibe. Walla does occasionally go in new directions; “The Score” is a rocking power pop gem that would fit in well on a Jimmy Eat World record, while “It’s Unsustainable” recalls the stripped-down poetic treatises of The Weakerthans. Somewhere, Gibbard is listening to Field Manual and kicking himself for not stealing all of these songs for the next Death Cab album. (Kiri)