Death Cab For Cutie Releases A Music Video For 'Underneath The Sycamore'

Death Cab for Cutie has just released a music video for the single Underneath the Sycamore, the latest track to be released off their current album Codes and Keys. The album has already spawned a number of singles, making the CD very well received. Codes and Keys has also been nominated in the upcoming 54th Grammy Awards in the category of Best Alternative Music Album.

The music video is in the context of a stylish Hollywood crime drama, but all the characters and backgrounds are cardboard cut-outs. It is like an animated video, however it is very well done.

The movements and expressions of all the "actors" are very appealing.

The video begins with the detective receiving a picture of a young lady who needs to be found by the police. Incredibly, feelings of affection can be seen in the eyes of the detective as he looks at the picture. A clue written on the paper states her last whereabouts - La Conga Club.

The next scene shows the skyscrapers of the big city, zooming down to her last known location. The detective shows the mug-shot to the bouncer outside the  La Conga Club, and is directed to a place down the road. The facial expressions of the cardboard cut-outs are so believable, it's incredible.

The detective walks down the lonely lane in search of the young lady. He eventually finds a clue taking him to a movie theatre. The detective finds her in the theatre in the company of a young man. As they leave, he follows them, seeing them embrace, and then following a clue leading to the Sycamore Hotel.

She is unable to cope with some traumatic event, as she walks to the edge of a tall building. The detective gets to the scene of the drama in time, but the ending is not a happy one.

It is hard to believe that cartoon cardboard cut-outs can bring out such intense emotions. This video is brilliant.

Death Cab for Cutie - "Underneath the Sycamore"