Ben Gibbard

In September, Ben Gibbard, the founder of Death Cab For Cutie, will set out on a nationwide tour to celebrate the two very different albums that have come to define his career. Both albums came out in 2003. The first was called Give Up, and it was a collaboration with his friend and producer Jimmy Tamborello. They’d made it while Gibbard was taking a break from the relentless cycle of touring and releasing music with Death Cab. They called their new band The Postal Service. Give Up steadily built momentum, found critical acclaim, and eventually became Gibbard’s first platinum selling record. Musically, the Postal Service incorporated various synth and new wave-inspired elements behind Gibbard’s confessional songwriting style, which set a precedent for many of the indie releases over the following decade. Later that same year, Gibbard went back to his band roots and released Death Cab For Cuties’ breakthrough album, Transatlanticism. This fall Gibbard and his band will play both Transatlanticism and Give Up in their entirety. And today we’ll hear him play three acoustic renditions of his classic songs. On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to Ben Gibbard about the conditions that led to the most successful year of his career. Gibbard also gets candid about the woman who inspired multiple songs on Transatlanticism, including the brutally honest, “Tiny Vessels.” You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Ben Gibbard songs HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Death Cab for Cutie released Kintsugi, their 8th album, on March 31, 2015. The song El Dorado, like other songs on the record, was written in the wake of the divorce between the band's lead singer Ben Gibbard and actress Zooey Deschanel. In this episode, Ben talks about the metaphor of the city of El Dorado and how it fit the story he wanted to tell, about separation, unrealized dreams, and Culver City. Plus, he explains how a few pieces of equipment - a Fender Mustang, a Rhythm Master drum machine, and the VoiceLive unit - ended up shaping the creative process. This episode is sponsored by Hover, Frank and Oak, and Lagunitas Brewing Company.

Ben Gibbard, renowned musician from Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, dives into the enigmatic world of The La's, the band behind the timeless hit 'There She Goes.' He discusses their cultural impact and the mythical status they hold in music history. The conversation reveals the complexities of their songwriting process, studio struggles, and the unique sound that has influenced countless artists. Gibbard also reflects on the band's tumultuous journey and the broader implications of creativity in the music industry.

The Death Cab For Cutie frontman performs a new song and pays tribute to Fountains of Wayne songwriter Adam Schlesinger in this quarantine concert.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ben Gibbard, the frontman of Death Cab for Cutie and an avid trail runner, shares his journey balancing music and ultra-running. He discusses life on tour, the emotional connection to revisiting old songs, and the evolving music industry landscape. He reflects on his experience running the challenging Western States 100, highlighting his relationship with coach Gary Robbins. Ben also talks about his collaboration with Speedland on a new trail shoe and the trials he faced during the race, showcasing the community spirit of ultrarunning.