Chris Walla is a talented guy. His role as guitarist, producer and co-writer in Death Cab For Cutie has led to high-profile production jobs with the Decemberists and Tegan & Sara; like Bright Eyes’ Mike Mogis, he seems like a behind-the-scenes mastermind. Strange, then, that his first solo album sounds simply like a Death Cab For Cutie LP. Field Manual is full of melancholy, wistful pop songs with lilting melodies carrying carefully written lyrics. Walla’s tenor vocals are even similar to Ben Gibbard’s, but—and this is a big but—Gibbard is the better singer, with a fuller, more assured tone.
Walla sounds best on sprightly songs (the jangly “Our Plans, Collapsing,” the bouncy “Sing Again”), multi-tracking his harmony vocals. Left naked and exposed on the somber “It’s Unsustainable,” however, his reedy voice detracts, and you can’t help but wish to substitute Gibbard. Aside from the awkwardly grungy “The Score,” these are good songs well-played, with Walla handling everything except for drums. But ersatz is still ersatz. [www.barsuk.com]
—Steve Klinge
