Don't know what you reckon to the ethics or whatever but Narrow Stairs leaked today just a couple of hours ago if you want to grab it. It's sounding pretty damn good to me. Just letting you know.
edit:
there are a couple versions floating around of Narrow Stairs. i believe it has only as of now leaked in 128 AAC so there are quite a few transcodes.
LOL @ Dave! Well, my blog partner is much more of a fan of DCFC than I am. I have always found them kinda so-so, which is one reason I can wait, but I will definitely give this album a listen.
Dave, from what i know about you from reading your blog, I don't see how you can't see, at least, that DCFC's work on The Photo Album was actually something quite brilliant. I'll agree with you on most of what they've done since then as undoubtedly subpar in relation to that album, but i'd easily put it up with the greats of recent times. I don't believe for a second you've seriously listened to The Photo Album...
I like guitar pop as much as the next guy but the Photo Album is the high water mark of a band that's never been particularly good outside of Gibbard's killer melodies. That said, "I Was a Kaleidoscope" is so obviously the best song ever. Album's not nearly as good as comparable stuff from the Dismemberment Plan, Pinback, Elliott Smith, etc.
Yep, I accept what you are saying. Walla's production is a definite key part of the band, however. Agreed that they aren't better than any of those bands. Only recently got into Dismemberment Plan :) loving it...