Review: Chris Walla - Field Manual

Posted on 28 January 2008 | No Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Just Plain Rock

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Last night after we put Hailey to bed, I put on Chris Walla’s solo debut Field Manual and after about four songs asked my wife who it reminded her of or who she might compare it to (not telling her that it was Chris Walla plus she wouldn’t know his name if I did). She responded with something like, “Ben Gibbard’s band… I can’t think of their name right now.” A telling indictment indeed. (She also mentioned Ben Lee as a point of vocal reference).

Listening to Field Manual it is easy to tell that Walla is responsible (in large part) for shaping the sound and texture of Death Cab For Cutie; his other band. In addition to playing guitar for Death Cab, Walla runs his own recording studio and has produced, mixed, or engineered records from The Decemberists, Tegan And Sara, and Hot Hot Heat (to name a few).

So what does Field Manual sound like? Well, it reminds me a lot of Death Cab’s Transatlanticism in tone and breadth but also brings to mind the rockness of artists such as The Weakerthans and Matthew Sweet. It is a surprisingly straightforward album with enormous subtleties working behind all that is immediately apparent. Even Walla’s hushed vocals have a slight vulnerable warble to them that make his lines even more poignant.

The production is also crystal clear just like an ice cold night with the moonlight reflecting off the newly fallen snow and it really makes these songs shine. Field Manual is an album full of wonderfully wonderful pop songs; many of which end fairly abruptly and leave the listener clamoring for more. Perhaps that’s why I’ve listened to this record a few dozen times over the past two weeks.

Field Manual drops tomorrow (January 29th) courtesy of our pals at Barsuk Records and should be tops on your “need to get now” list. It’s that good! And although it may be premature, this should be right up there on my best of 2008. High praise I know, but Chris Walla is deserving of every bit.

MP3 | Chris Walla – Sing Again Field Manual