Pitchfork

Let's cut right to the chase here: Death Cab for Cutie have just made a four-song EP available exclusively via the iTunes Music Store. Entitled Studio X Sessions, the assorted MP3s were compiled from songs recorded at the end of this year's spring tour in Seattle. According to Barsuk's website, "The session's unique arrangements put a twist on Death Cab's usual guitar/guitar/bass/drums lineup and feature guitarist/producer Chris Walla and frontman Benjamin Gibbard swapping turns on Studio X's grand piano, backed by the ever-thorough rhythm section of Nicholas Harmer (bass) and Jason McGerr (drums)." Those not yet exhausted by America's recent Death Cabificiation can purchase the digital EP for a scant $3.96. Songs:

01 The New Year
02 Blacking Out the Friction
03 Bend to Squares
04 Army Corps of Architects

In related news, with the 2004 presidential election only three months away, the gloves have begun to come off for that most dedicated group of political activists: rock stars. Hoping to draw fans/voters to the polls in support of Democratic nominee John Kerry, a collection of major and indie label artists-- Death Cab among them-- have recently joined forces for an upcoming tour bearing the name Vote for Change.

Alongside such parental favorites as Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, R.E.M., John Fogerty, Dave Matthews Band, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Keb' Mo', John Mellencamp, Dixie Chicks, and Babyface, the MoveOn-presented tour also includes some wacky pair-ups of indie rockers/rappers like Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, Jurassic 5, and yes, Death Cab for Cutie, who'll be sharing a stage with Pearl Jam.

Kicking off roughly a month before election day, this diverse crew of rabble-rousers will split into six separate groups for a series of mini-festival dates that will be stopping in major battleground states from sea to shining sea. Possibly shooting for the record books, the tour will see 20 artists performing at 34 shows, in 9 states, in only one week. The bands are reportedly donating their time and effort to the event, with proceeds going to Democratic organization America Coming Together.

Speaking to Ted Koppel in a rare television interview on ABC's Nightline, Bruce Springsteen explained the motivation behind the tour: "Artists write, and sing and think, and this is how we get to put our two cents in, and we do it right in front of people, not in secret meetings behind closed doors. We let people know what we think. I don't know if people go to musicians for their politics. I doubt that they do, you know, but you can rally people to think on serious issues together, and that's what we're trying to do. I think it's one of the most critical elections of my adult life, certainly. Very basic questions of American identity are at issue: who we are, what do we stand for, when do we fight." Dates:

Pearl Jam Death Cab for Cutie 10-01 Reading, PA - Sovereign Center 10-02 Toledo, OH - Sports Arena 10-03 Grand Rapids, MI - Delta Plex 10-05 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater 10-06 Asheville, NC - Civic Center 10-08 Kissimmee, FL - Silver Spur Arena Bruce Springsteen R.E.M. John Fogerty Bright Eyes 10-01 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center 10-02 Cleveland, OH - Gund Arena 10-03 Ann Arbor, MI - Crisler Arena 10-05 St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center 10-08 Orlando, FL - TD Waterhouse Dave Matthews Band Jurassic 5 My Morning Jacket 10-01 University Park, PA - Bryce Jordan Center 10-02 Dayton, OH - Wright State University 10-03 Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills 10-06 Ames, IA - Iowa State University 10-08 Gainesville, FL - University of Florida

Dixie Chicks James Taylor 10-01 Pittsburgh, PA - TBA 10-02 Cleveland, OH - TBA 10-03 Detroit, MI - TBA 10-05 Iowa City, IA - TBA 10-06 St. Louis, MO - TBA 10-08 Tampa Bay, FL - TBA Jackson Browne Bonnie Raitt Keb' Mo' 10-01 Williamsport, PA - TBA 10-02 TBA 10-03 Grand Rapid, MI - TBA 10-05 Kansas City, MS - TBA 10-06 Des Moines, IA - TBA 10-08 Jacksonville, FL - TBA John Mellencamp Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds 10-01 Wilkes-Barre, PA - TBA 10-02 Cincinati, OH - TBA 10-03 Kalamazoo, MI - TBA 10-05 Milwaukee, WI - TBA 10-08 Miami, FL - TBA

Oh but the story ain't over yet, kids. Those Death Cab dates above are but six brief stops in an overarching 17-date jaunt that will take the band all across the United States and England. Along the way, they'll be pairing up with a number of other bands, including Modest Mouse and The Walkmen at Q101's Block Party in Chicago, the Pixies in Bend, Oregon, and finally-- the shokka-- Blink182 in the UK. Take off your pants and jacket:

08-13 Portland, OR - Bite of Oregon Festival
08-14 Chicago, IL - Q101's Block Party (w/Modest Mouse, The Walkmen)
09-03 Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09-04 Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater (w/Pixies)
10-01 Reading, PA - Sovereign Center *
10-02 Toledo, OH - Sports Arena *
10-03 Grand Rapids, MI - Delta Plex *
10-05 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater *
10-06 Asheville, NC - Civic Center *
10-08 Kissimmee, FL - Silver Spur Arena *
11-30 Birmingham, England - Birmingham NEC %
12-02 Newcastle , England - Newcastle Arena %
12-03 Manchester, England - Manchester MEN Arena %
12-05 London, England - London Wembley Arena %
12-06 London, England - London Wembley Arena %
12-07 Cardiff, Wales - Cardiff Arena %
12-08 Nottingham, England - Nottingham Arena %

* with Pearl Jam on the Vote for Change tour
% with Blink 182