It seems natural that Chris Walla would make a
fine solo disc: He's Ben Gibbard's sonic wingman in Death Cab For Cutie, and
he's branched out as an excellent producer, too, giving quirky touches to Tegan
And Sara's The Con,
among plenty of other discs. Not surprisingly, Walla's first solo set, Field
Manual,
is masterfully produced, and glossed over with same thick indie-pop sheen
that's greased up every Death Cab release. The problem: Walla isn't that strong
a songwriter. Nothing on Field Manual is noticeably bad, but it's never ridiculously
exciting, either. Songs such as "Geometry &c;" and "Sing Again" sound like
Death Cab's cutting-room floor, culled perhaps because of sub-par hooks. Add
Walla to the list of producers who should stay producers: Field Manual sounds great, but it
isn't always worth listening to.