Pitchfork

Imagine a modern day indie rock Rip Van Winkle, who fell asleep listening to Something About Airplanes just before the turn of the century and awoke last year to find his favorite band turned chart-topping megastars. How would he feel? Would he stand by his beloved Death Cab for Cutie or cop a scowl and brand them sell-outs? Would he undergo an existential crisis, only to meet some overzealous but sincere latecomer DCFC fangirl (played by Scarlett Johansson) who teaches him the true meaning of profound happiness? Zach Braff, film that shit!

The soundtrack, obviously, would be by Death Cab, who are about to enter the studio to record the follow-up to 2005's Plans, according to Billboard.com. The quartet did some pre-production, whatever the hell that means, and now they're eyeing mid-September as the golden moment to start recording. Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco will all be graced by the recording Death Cabbies, and spring 2008 will most likely be the season of the new album's release. No word yet on a title, producer, or tracklist, but-- hey wait a minute Rip, are you nodding off again?

As previously reported, Death Cab's Ben Gibbard will join Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket in conversation at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts on September 11, while the Postal Service will not be delivering a new album in time for the holidays.