Formed in Bellingham, WA in 1997, Death Cab for Cutie quickly emerged as one of the defining bands of their era, propelled by the emotionally incisive songwriting of co-founder, vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Benjamin Gibbard. The band’s global breakthrough came with 2003’s Transatlanticism, a platinum-certified release later named by NPR as one of the decade’s most important recordings. Their 2005 major-label debut Plans pushed them to even greater prominence, earning platinum status and their first GRAMMY® nominations. Subsequent albums—including Narrow Stairs, Codes and Keys, and Kintsugi—continued to expand their sonic palette while securing a total of eight GRAMMY® nominations and cementing their critical and cultural standing.
In the years since, Death Cab for Cutie have consistently reaffirmed their relevance and creative ambition. 2018’s Thank You for Today marked a new chapter, featuring the chart-topping single “Gold Rush,” while later projects highlighted the band’s collaborative spirit and civic engagement—from high-profile musical partnerships to The Georgia EP, which raised over $100,000 for voting rights efforts. Gibbard’s 2022 tribute project Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono earned widespread acclaim, and that same year the band released their tenth studio album, Asphalt Meadows, underscoring a legacy defined not only by longevity, but by continual artistic growth and purpose.