Audio Mixers: Christopher Walla; Tucker Martine.

Recording information: Mushroom; The Alberta Court; The Command Center, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; The Hall Of Justice, Seattle, WA; The Kung Fu Bakery, Portland, OR.

Photographer: Christopher Walla.

Death Cab for Cutie producer and musical mastermind steps out from his primary gig's shadow for FIELD MANUAL, a solo debut that sounds much like his main squeeze of a band. Not that there's anything wrong with that. What works on Death Cab albums works here too: layered, mid-tempo indie pop with enough guitar crunch, hooks, and political wit to bob heads and raise fists in equal measure. Two pleasant surprises: hearing Walla's sweet, accomplished vocals independent of Ben Gibbard's and the spare, melancholic closing tracks.The limited edition deluxe version features a gorgeous cloth-bound cover.