Death Cab for Cojones

I Will Possess Your Heart," the lead single from Death Cab for Cutie's carefully guarded forthcoming album, Narrow Stairs, offers many of the Seattle quartet's usual hallmarks. Aside from some moderately swirly atmospherics and a shadowy Jane's Addiction–style bass line, the song delivers the usual autumnal guitars, plaintive piano, and Ben Gibbard's high, yearning croon. It's a good tune, not exactly the extreme makeover that was expected after all the chatter floating around in recent months. A recent MTV.com preview termed the disc a "ballsy, brave effort," and compared the band's artistic leap to the one Radiohead made with OK Computer. If Death Cab has indeed grown a pair, this could be its career moment, making for an emotionally and sonically explosive show when the band performs on Wednesday, April 23, at the Fillmore at 8 p.m. Admission is $35; call 346-6000 or visit www.livenation.com for more info.