Death Cab for Cutie / Photo by Autumn de Wilde

What? With an illustrious, ever-expanding career -- from 1997's debut You Can Play These Songs with Chords to revered indie rock gem The Photo Album to 2003's breakthrough Transatlanticism to 2005's set Plans -- Death Cab for Cutie have continually pushed the artistic fringe with one foot planted firmly in dreamy, glimmering guitar rock. And their latest, Narrow Stairs (out today), is one of their best, pushing the limits of sonic experimentation while keeping the pop-factor intact, and leaning on Ben Gibbard's characteristically endearing, "heart"-digging lyrics.

Who? Seattle's Death Cab for Cutie feature Gibbard (also of the Postal Service, and, um, Just Jazzin'), multi-instrumentalist/producer Chris Walla, bassist Nick Harmer, and drummer Jason McGerr.

Fun Fact: While traveling the world to film the music video for Death Cab's first single "I Will Possess You Heart," co-director Aaron Stewart stopped passersby along the way, from Brooklyn to London, to Tunisia to DCFC's hometown of Seattle, asked them to don headphones blasting the band's new tunes, and filmed their reaction in short video clips. Ranging from bewilderment to excitement and beyond, the listener's responses (see the links below), and the breathtaking, worldly backgrounds, illustrate the varied and moody artistry of Death Cab's Narrow Stairs.

Our fave, so far: the groovy Japanese lad enjoying "Cath."

Now Watch This:

• "Bixby Canyon Bridge"
• "I Will Possess Your Heart"
• "No Sunlight"
• "Cath"
• "Talking Bird"
• "You Can Do Better Than Me (But I Can Do Better Than You)"
• "Grapevine Fires"
• "Your New Twin Size Bed"
• "The Remainder"
• "Pity and Fear"
• "The Ice Is Getting Thinner"

More on Death Cab:
-- Read the Death Cab feature in the May issue of Spin
-- Watch the video for "I Will Possess Your Heart"
-- Watch behind-the-scenes footage from Death Cab's 2005 Spin cover shoot