[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Death Cab for Cutie — Black Sun
Album: Kintsugi
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1390









Released: 2015
Length: 4:42
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share tweet wikiwebsitesearchamg
cd
mp3
search
There is whiskey in the water
And there is death upon the vine
There is fear in the eyes of your father
And there is "Yours" and there is "Mine"
There is a desert veiled in pavement
And there's a city of seven hills
And all our debris flows to the ocean
To meet again, I hope it will

How could something so fair
Be so cruel
When this black sun revolved
Around you

There is an answer in a question
And there is hope within despair
And there is beauty in a failure
And there are depths beyond compare
There is a role of a lifetime
And there's a song yet to be sung
And there's a dumpster in the driveway
Of all the plans that came undone

How could something so fair
Be so cruel
When this black sun revolved
Around you
How could something so fair
Be so cruel
When this black sun revolved
Around you

There is whiskey in the water
And there is death upon the vine
And there is grace within forgiveness
But it's so hard for me to find

How could something so fair
Be so cruel
When this black sun revolved
Around you
How could something so fair
Be so cruel
When this black sun revolved
Around you
Comments (56)add comment
An interesting "restoration" of the photo in the cover art: https://imgur.com/a/Mq7Kt
Posted 9 months ago by MJdub    [ Reply ]
+1 for cool band name.
Posted 1 year ago by Kajukenbo    [ Reply ]
And there's a dumpster in the driveway
Of all the plans that came undone

Brilliant 
Posted 2 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
If a band can get one good album out, it's an accomplishment. 
PLANS was theirs,  but  why stop after that?
Posted 2 years ago by Michaeljcovel    [ Reply ]
 JoeHaarlemNL wrote:

A 9. And I want to have shares in RP too. 



Plus One. An RP classic!
Posted 2 years ago by johnfiva    [ Reply ]

That fuzz guitar line just totally gets me. 
Posted 4 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
I can't get enough of this song.  Every time I listen to this album I end up putting Black Sun on repeat.
Posted 4 years ago by SchrodingersCat    [ Reply ]
 lizardking wrote:

Thanks for sharing!  I really dig some of the Eastern concepts, and this Kintsugi is one of the cooler ones in my mind.  Us Western folks (OK, the US in particular) seem driven by what's next, and the ephemerality of things.  I'm a bit more patient than that, and enjoy the moment more than anything.  Long Live RP!!

It's also been called a "depression mentality"... The philosophy of not just throwing things away because they're broken but repairing them. One of the
best examples is in Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, when the Joad's Essex breaks
down and Tom goes to a junkyard and gets a used main bearing to repair it. I
can relate since I'm still everyday driving my '71 VW Bus that I bought in '80
for $300...Altho' as soon as I get my money out of it, I'm considering selling it.

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 

Posted 4 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
 spinningspirit wrote:
so melancholy. Influence of his divorce from actress Zooey Deschanel in 2012, maybe. 
 
That's for sure....3rd and 4th line of the song are: 

There is fear in the eyes of your father, 
And there is "Yours" and there is "Mine"

This one's slowly moving up for me, it's not a 7 anymore, it's an 8.  Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
The singer's voice reminds me a bit of Lloyd Cole .   .   . really like this song.
Posted 5 years ago by AZJeff    [ Reply ]
Great song, great album !!!

         
Posted 5 years ago by Michael_in_Paradise    [ Reply ]
I was never that impressed with DCFC but the newest album by them has given me such an incredible appreciation for them!  Play more of that one Bill and Rebecca please!
Posted 6 years ago by SurfDoc    [ Reply ]
 themusicroob wrote:
Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but Kintsugi (the name of this album) is, according the Wikipedia, "is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, a method similar to the maki-e technique. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise." Super good name for an album.


 
Thanks for sharing!  I really dig some of the Eastern concepts, and this Kintsugi is one of the cooler ones in my mind.  Us Western folks (OK, the US in particular) seem driven by what's next, and the ephemerality of things.  I'm a bit more patient than that, and enjoy the moment more than anything.  Long Live RP!!
Posted 6 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
My lad, who is now just coming up on 13, considers DCFC to be his favourite band.  I am pleased.

edit 4 years later:  he's gone off them now a bit as he thinks too much of their music revolves around breakup.  I'm also glad that he is more cheery than me...
Posted 6 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but Kintsugi (the name of this album) is, according the Wikipedia, "is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum, a method similar to the maki-e technique. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise." Super good name for an album.

Posted 7 years ago by themusicroob    [ Reply ]
Good voice for ....
Posted 7 years ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
Great album, maybe their best.
 
Posted 7 years ago by Cyclehawk    [ Reply ]
so melancholy. Influence of his divorce from actress Zooey Deschanel in 2012, maybe. 
Posted 8 years ago by spinningspirit    [ Reply ]
 
I think that, like Spinal Tap, they've gone through a number of drummers, but the current one has been with them since 2003. He's really good: I often find the drums to be my favorite part of a DCFC song. 


OceanBlue wrote:
Their drummer is immensely talented, and actually very respected in the percussion world (I know, I know, are we listening to the same DCFC?)

His parts are always creative with a capital C, especially on these softer and creepier tracks.

 


Posted 8 years ago by Vicey    [ Reply ]
 slider23 wrote:
9 for drum section.

  Their drummer is immensely talented, and actually very respected in the percussion world (I know, I know, are we listening to the same DCFC?)

His parts are always creative with a capital C, especially on these softer and creepier tracks.


Posted 8 years ago by OceanBlue    [ Reply ]
Yeah, going to go ahead and bump this to an "8".  {#Cool}
Posted 8 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
I like it, nice voice just feel its missing something.. 
Posted 8 years ago by MS_Anchor    [ Reply ]
I am not all that crazy about DCFC, and this is a solid 9.  I am definitely buying this album now.
Posted 8 years ago by MJdub    [ Reply ]
A 9. And I want to have shares in RP too. 
Posted 9 years ago by JoeHaarlemNL    [ Reply ]
Alright, alright!  You win.  I'll buy it......

edit:  it was worth it.
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
DCFC has just bought shares in RP, or what?    airplay seems to be thrugh the roof.   most songs seem to be very creepy when over listened.   I can see why she left him now.
Posted 9 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
9 for drum section.
Posted 9 years ago by slider23    [ Reply ]
 BBoyes wrote:
Anyone else hear Willie Nelson on this one? I mean that in a positive sense.

 
Ha ha...I just made the same comment and then said to myself....hmmm I wonder if someone already posted that already and sure enough....definitely hear the Willie Nelson voice waver and kinda the same timbre.
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Does this guy sound kinda like a young Willie Nelson or is it just me....ha ha. I love this BTW.
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
Another great song from deathcab.

Love it! 
Posted 9 years ago by Athyrius    [ Reply ]
Not too whiny. That's a plus.
Posted 9 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
I don't think I've heard anything by this band here on RP that I didn't like, yet I don't own anything yet. I'll have to fix that.
Posted 9 years ago by dragon1952    [ Reply ]
 zenben wrote:
The Decemberists, Death Cab and about 10 other artists this morning (i am on central Europe Daylight Savings time now)...are they using the same book on Cliches and also vocal teachers? My God, this is actually worse than all those seattle bands using Ray Charles voice in the 90's...like they invented it! Oy, Bill, the check please!

 
Europe was conned into daylight savings too?!!!  Does this madness know no end?

Also, calling for the check on a listener supported radio station is in bad form.  Just leave quietly, preferably with a nice tip on the table. 
Posted 9 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
The Decemberists, Death Cab and about 10 other artists this morning (i am on central Europe Daylight Savings time now)...are they using the same book on Cliches and also vocal teachers? My God, this is actually worse than all those seattle bands using Ray Charles voice in the 90's...like they invented it! Oy, Bill, the check please!
Posted 9 years ago by zenben    [ Reply ]
Excellent song, excellent band!
Posted 9 years ago by Dav3thedog    [ Reply ]
This band never caught my attention until the past couple of years.  A few of these new tracks are really impressive!
Posted 9 years ago by MJdub    [ Reply ]
Cool video of this on NPR's "Tiny Desk Concerts": https://www.npr.org/event/music/397696708/death-cab-for-cutie-tiny-desk-concert
Posted 9 years ago by Ballzak    [ Reply ]
 gusthemonkey wrote:
ooooh.. like this alot on first listen. It sort of worms its way into your ear.    The vocal is very reminiscent of someone .. can't quite place it yet, but this one had me walk across the room and click to see " who is that "  

Love it when that happens . (-:  

 

Had me thinking of Shawn Mullins at first.
I like this too. 
Posted 9 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
 gusthemonkey wrote:
ooooh.. like this alot on first listen. It sort of worms its way into your ear.    The vocal is very reminiscent of someone .. can't quite place it yet, but this one had me walk across the room and click to see " who is that "  

Love it when that happens . (-:  

 
Also had first-listen big thumbs up. The opening and the march-step plangent guitar rhythm remind me of The Church's "Numbers" from "After Everything Now This." The vocals don't quite match with those of The Church. 

This is a welcome alternative to DCFC's unvarying archness in "Codes and Keys." 
Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Interesting existential evocative lyrics. But Death Cab's sound is getting kind of old. I remember their early, more vibrant, less pensive tracks. More of that, please. 
 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 jules44 wrote:
time to turn it up LOUD!!!

 
Yup...bumping to an 8.
Posted 9 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
time to turn it up LOUD!!!
Posted 9 years ago by jules44    [ Reply ]
Anyone else hear Willie Nelson on this one? I mean that in a positive sense.

There is an answer in a question
And there is hope within despair
And there is beauty in a failure,
And there are depths beyond compare
There is a role of a lifetime
And there's a song yet to be sung
And there's a dumpster in the driveway
Of all the plans that came undone

How could something so fair
Be so cruel
When this black sun revolved
Around you!


Posted 9 years ago by BBoyes    [ Reply ]
Miss Misery.
Posted 9 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
I'm going to guess this is about divorce.
Love the sparkling tone of the guitar.   
Posted 9 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
I like it! Thanks Bill. Been a while since we've heard some new songs from Death Cab.
Posted 9 years ago by Kaiser    [ Reply ]
This is one of those songs that grows on me more and more with each listen.
Thanks RP for introducing me to DCFC so many years ago!
 
Posted 9 years ago by jules44    [ Reply ]
 RadioBow wrote:
RP is either getting creative with us or has a 45 and accidentally switched speeds
 
Fixed.  Think so, anyway...
Posted 9 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
RP is either getting creative with us or has a 45 and accidentally switched speeds
Posted 9 years ago by RadioBow    [ Reply ]
First listening:{#Music} WOW I Like it, I Like it, Yes! 
Posted 9 years ago by Derk_Decibel    [ Reply ]
Does this track cut out before the first chorus and slow down/get lower for anyone else? This is the second time I've heard it happen to this song this week. It sounds like there's something wrong with the audio file. Can't tell if it's just me. Listening via the Android app. 
Posted 9 years ago by amgieschen    [ Reply ]
Enjoying a lot - playing the older guy spotting the influences as always, its very Neil like.
Posted 9 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
 gusthemonkey wrote:
ooooh.. like this alot on first listen. It sort of worms its way into your ear.    The vocal is very reminiscent of someone .. can't quite place it yet, but this one had me walk across the room and click to see " who is that "  

Love it when that happens . (-:  

 
Yeah,  I get that as well. Nice this.......
Posted 9 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
ooooh.. like this alot on first listen. It sort of worms its way into your ear.    The vocal is very reminiscent of someone .. can't quite place it yet, but this one had me walk across the room and click to see " who is that "  

Love it when that happens . (-:  
Posted 9 years ago by gusthemonkey    [ Reply ]
Oh, I like this a lot, particularly on first hearing....
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Not bad!
Posted 9 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]