Plans
by Death Cab for Cutie
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Aug 30, 2005
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 203 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 168 out of 203
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 203
  3. Negative: 21 out of 203

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  1. ScottW
    Sep 1, 2005
    10
    This is some of the most honest songwriting I have ever heard, and forcefully fills the spaces in one's heart that other music leaves open. If this CD does not get you choked up, you are not listening to it. While you can definitely tell that it's Death Cab, that is what all fans of Death Cab will be looking for, and its sweeping melodic tones, tense lack of resolution, emotive This is some of the most honest songwriting I have ever heard, and forcefully fills the spaces in one's heart that other music leaves open. If this CD does not get you choked up, you are not listening to it. While you can definitely tell that it's Death Cab, that is what all fans of Death Cab will be looking for, and its sweeping melodic tones, tense lack of resolution, emotive chord play, and phenomenal lyrics are sure to make any listener both thrilled and longing terribly for more.… Expand
  2. emilyd.
    Sep 2, 2005
    10
    i agree with kate f, plans falls right between the photo album and transatlanticism. The sound isn't new, but it is the same death cab for cutie that we know and love. It is consistently good, and every song could be released as a single. Great cd overall.
  3. TomN
    Jan 4, 2006
    10
    One of my new favorites
  4. michielj
    Oct 28, 2005
    10
    genius
  5. rayt
    Aug 31, 2005
    10
    sorrow drips into your heart like a pinhole? come on wow
  6. AzamN
    Sep 17, 2005
    10
    This album is totally fantastic art ! The acoustic indie genre made it different from other album. No songs are boring though.It's good to hear when your heart needs something peace,slow and enjoyable musics.
  7. KevinM
    Sep 26, 2005
    10
    Death Cab for Cutie is much more than you think it is. While most of you eat your hearts out with mindless rap and rock music that is the same as anything else in this day and age, Death Cab for Cutie takes music to a different level and gives the sound a unique feeling. Those magazines and websites who rated low, are mostly no-names anyway. So I handclap for them and their senseless Death Cab for Cutie is much more than you think it is. While most of you eat your hearts out with mindless rap and rock music that is the same as anything else in this day and age, Death Cab for Cutie takes music to a different level and gives the sound a unique feeling. Those magazines and websites who rated low, are mostly no-names anyway. So I handclap for them and their senseless taste in music. Death Cab for Cutie: Plans, has a lot of meaning to it, if you really listen to their music. Most of these people who try to 'rate and act important' listen to a song or two once then they go alright time to write my life story about it. No, that is not how it works. For a band who is getting on it's feet just like any band has to start off to into their mainstream of startum, this album is something peple should really appreciate. You can tell they put more than just thoughts of money and idolism into their name, they really give their music meaning and they know they can share it with others who relate.… Expand
  8. GlennM
    Sep 2, 2005
    10
    What an awsome album, soul meets body is one of my favorite songs ever and the lyrics I think have improved.
  9. BoB
    Sep 5, 2005
    10
    amazing album...
  10. Jade
    Oct 12, 2005
    10
    i like this album because it does have a lot of meaning and you have to read between the lines most of the time. I like that. It's different and unique. I also like Ben's voice.
  11. JoshuaL
    Aug 31, 2005
    10
    It's pretty hard to one-up one of the best reviewed albums of the past two years, but much to my delight, Death Cab For Cutie has come very, very close. While "Plans" may not have the overall flow of Transatlanticism, its scope, or is daring leaps of faith, "Plans" is still in my opinion the best released CD so far this year. Ben Gibbard and co. still deliever what DCFC fans have It's pretty hard to one-up one of the best reviewed albums of the past two years, but much to my delight, Death Cab For Cutie has come very, very close. While "Plans" may not have the overall flow of Transatlanticism, its scope, or is daring leaps of faith, "Plans" is still in my opinion the best released CD so far this year. Ben Gibbard and co. still deliever what DCFC fans have loved about the West-coast group for years: haunting melodies, heart-felt and at many times brilliant lyrics, music you can easily get lost in. There are a couple tracks that leave something to be desired such as "Summer Skin" and "Someday You Will Be Loved". But then again, Gibbard has written some of the best music of his career on this LP. "Marching Bands of Manhattan" is as great an opener as "New Year" ever was and "What Sarah Said" may be the most powerful song you will ever hear. The best song on the whole disk however may just be "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" which will remind you of why these guys are taking the world by storm. "Stable Song", which is a nice acoustic, mellow redo of "Stability" and is a great way to end the CD. While "Transatlanticism" was mainly about distance and being apart from what means a lot to you, "Plans" continues that theme and gives us the answer that sometimes, even in spite of our best made plans, things can change, and things can go wrong. DCFC's first release on a major label discusses death and loss like very few bands could ever dream to do.… Expand
  12. JohnO
    Aug 30, 2005
    10
    I love Death Cab, and this album is an extremely welcome to their amazing collection. Sure, its not an independant label, but the essence of the Death Cab we love is still there, and in full effect. I love this album.
  13. GarrettT
    Sep 14, 2005
    10
    Some of the lyrics are a downer, but that makes me love it even more. Anyone that has ever lost a loved one can indentify with the lyrics to What Sarah Said. This is my first experience with this band but it won't be the last.
  14. ChrisM
    Sep 14, 2005
    10
    I can't believe how critical people are of DCFC all of a sudden, just cuz they're on Atlantic. This a fantastic album that blows away other new releases by Kanye West, Stellastarr*, The Coral, etc. Truly a beautiful album... so what if it's not Transatlanticism Pt2.
  15. RobertB.
    Sep 2, 2005
    10
    This is album is simply amazing.
  16. andrewb
    Sep 2, 2005
    10
    I believe that death cab is an original voice in pop music today. Managing to paint a balanced blend of hope and sadness into their music about life and love
  17. melaniel
    Sep 6, 2005
    10
    ben gibbard is a genius.
  18. BoazF.
    Apr 28, 2008
    10
    An amazing mix of soul, sound, and beauty.
  19. FearghalL.
    Jan 25, 2010
    10
    Great album one of the best of the last decade cant understand the low metacritic score so many good songs like "crooked teeth" "brothers on a hotel bed" and my personal favorite "what sarah said" listen to the lyrics carefully one of the saddest and most heart felt songs you will ever hear.
  20. AnitaC
    Oct 16, 2005
    10
    This album is incredible! Definetly their best yet!
  21. Will
    Dec 1, 2005
    10
    If you are involved in some kind of personal trauma with your significant other, there can be no album more powerful or affecting. Listen to the lyrics carefully and you'll see the genius in Gibbard.
  22. Rhyse
    Mar 25, 2006
    10
    Easily one of their most coherent and fluid albums to date. A great example of the indie-pop genre. People interested in what indie music sounds like should look no further than DCFC.
  23. Vampire25
    May 3, 2011
    10
    "Plans" is the album that made me start listening to Death Cab For Cutie. I loved this album the first time I heard it and I still love it to this day. Each track has it's own sense of beauty. Ben Gibbard's croons are so melodic and vocally harmonic. The opener "Marching Bands Of Manhattan" is a wonderful opener and really starts the album off. All In All, Plans is just as good as"Plans" is the album that made me start listening to Death Cab For Cutie. I loved this album the first time I heard it and I still love it to this day. Each track has it's own sense of beauty. Ben Gibbard's croons are so melodic and vocally harmonic. The opener "Marching Bands Of Manhattan" is a wonderful opener and really starts the album off. All In All, Plans is just as good as "Transatlanticism", maybe even in someways, better. A… Expand
  24. SingingCactus
    Jun 11, 2011
    10
    Get this album if you like: albums that sound like one big piece instead of 12 little ones, songs about feelings, lyrics you have to think about to understand fully, or having hope that everything will be okay.

    Do not get this album if: you like catchy music; you don't like listening to the same album a million times; you want your album to have a lot of variation in style; you just want    Get this album if you like: albums that sound like one big piece instead of 12 little ones, songs about feelings, lyrics you have to think about to understand fully, or having hope that everything will be okay.

    Do not get this album if: you like catchy music; you don't like listening to the same album a million times; you want your album to have a lot of variation in style; you just want to dance.    … Expand
  25. TheDaveHimself
    Jun 30, 2011
    10
    I'd say this is the band's coming of age album, and the perfect follow-up to Transatlanticism. I'm surprised it wasn't better received by critics, but at least fans recognize what a fantastic record it really is. "Your Heart Is An Empty Room" and "Brothers In Hotel Beds" are some of the best songs the band has dished out. "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" could have found it's way onto oneI'd say this is the band's coming of age album, and the perfect follow-up to Transatlanticism. I'm surprised it wasn't better received by critics, but at least fans recognize what a fantastic record it really is. "Your Heart Is An Empty Room" and "Brothers In Hotel Beds" are some of the best songs the band has dished out. "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" could have found it's way onto one of the American Recordings had Johnny Cash stuck around longer. One of the best albums of 2005.… Expand
  26. jay
    Sep 2, 2005
    9
    This album went from okay to good to great upon several listens. If you love Transatlanticism, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't love Plans. Moving and beautiful music. I can't stop listening to it now.
  27. LindsayF
    Sep 8, 2005
    9
    Absolutely nothing can surpass Transatlanticism, but without comparing Plans to any of their other albums, it's still amazing.
  28. AmeliaE
    Aug 30, 2006
    9
    Another beautiful album by Death Cab
  29. Laurenl
    Oct 8, 2005
    9
    Not as good as Transalaticism, but it certainly won my ears.
  30. TristanH
    Aug 30, 2005
    9
    Not a masterpiece, not as good as transatlanticism (which is what everybody will be comparing it to, obviously), not as musically powerful as some of their earlier work, but damn if it doesn't make you think. Every lyric is on a different level from everything Gibbard's ever written -- shallow minded people *will* call it whiny, but if you don't think about the things Not a masterpiece, not as good as transatlanticism (which is what everybody will be comparing it to, obviously), not as musically powerful as some of their earlier work, but damn if it doesn't make you think. Every lyric is on a different level from everything Gibbard's ever written -- shallow minded people *will* call it whiny, but if you don't think about the things he's singing about, you might as well already be dead. It's a lighter album -- quieter and deeper -- and I think it's worth listening to for what it stirs in your head as well as the wonderfully written *music* which is something better than the "pop" people are calling it. I don't know, it's good. I like it a lot.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Most Discussed Album of 2005
42
#42 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 29
  3. Negative: 2 out of 29
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    70
    There is nothing like Transatlaticism's "Sound of Settling" here to offset the never-ending stream of ballads and down-tempo songs.
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  2. musicOMH.com
    80
    This is certainly an album of progression that is likely to win the band plenty of new fans, but it shouldn't alienate their fanbase either.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    As albums, Transatlanticism and Give Up seemed greater than their parts, perfectly paced song cycles about love wracked by distance and time's march. Plans addresses similar themes, but without the same narrative glue or shape.
    Read full review
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