Story perspectives

Death Cab for Cutie Announces New Album and Tour

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Death Cab for Cutie will release their 11th studio album, *I Built You a Tower*, on June 5, 2023, via ANTI- Records, marking their return to independent music after 20 years with Atlantic Records.
The first single, "Riptides," addresses personal struggles and global tragedies, according to frontman Ben Gibbard.
The album was recorded over three weeks in locations including Los Angeles and the band members' homes.
Following the release, the band will begin a North American tour in July, with a European leg scheduled for later in 2023.

History

Historical Context

Death Cab for Cutie's *Transatlanticism*, released on October 7, 2003, marked a significant moment in indie rock, achieving platinum status and charting on the Billboard 200. The album's themes of long-distance love resonated widely, aided by exposure from the TV show *The O.C.*. The band's subsequent shift to Atlantic Records in 2004 reflected a growing trend of artists seeking independence from major labels, influencing the music industry landscape.

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Story summary

Death Cab for Cutie will release their 11th studio album, *I Built You a Tower*, on June 5, 2023, via ANTI- Records, marking their return to independent music after 20 years with Atlantic Records.
The first single, "Riptides," addresses personal struggles and global tragedies, according to frontman Ben Gibbard.
The album was recorded over three weeks in locations including Los Angeles and the band members' homes.
Following the release, the band will begin a North American tour in July, with a European leg scheduled for later in 2023.

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