Ben Gibbard

Known for singing and songwriting in indie bands Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, front man Benjamin Gibbard has opted to go the solo route, at least for one album.

“Former Lives” sounds fairly similar to the work he does with Death Cab for Cutie. However, Gibbard tries different styles of song, such as lullaby and mariachi, that add variety to the album.

There are some very solid and enjoyable songs on “Former Lives” and some that probably could have been left off.

Although Gibbard tried his luck using different styles of music as an influence, it doesn’t always work, specifically in the song “Something’s Rattling (Cowpoke)” in which the
horns used to accompany Gibbard sound overbearing.

On the other side of the spectrum, “Lily” is a simple, beautiful love song and works perfectly on the album.

Although the songs are a bit hit or miss, “Former Lives” is a great first attempt at a solo release by Gibbard. His lyrics and voice are astounding, as always.

By Steph Langan