It’s always a fun time when Death Cab For Cutie plays its anti-L.A. anthem “Why You’d Want to Live Here” in Southern California. It’s an exacting laundry list of the most cliched, obvious complaints about Los Angeles: traffic, movie star egos and smog.

Oh, sensitive Seattle-ite Ben Gibbard, with your floppy bangs and pained falsetto, we’re so sorry our city doth offend you so! Yes, we know you’re kind of kidding, and you’re really only bitter that another hipstress wised up to your sad-panda schtick, but still, tell us about your mythic Metros and great coffee and endless metaphorical rain!

Oh, Ben, I kid. We’ll always be sad-panda indie boys together. But still, about this new album, “Narrow Stairs.” You already know how I feel about the single “I Will Possess Your Heart,” but the hints you offered at your sundown set carry a distinct aroma of prog. Like, minutes-long intros and ladles of reverb. This is not a good fit. The crowd reaction to airtight, sneaky little pop singles such as “Soul Meets Body” and “Your Heart is an Empty Room” is where your affection really lies, even if you don’t know it now.

Did you notice how much fun it was to play old favorite “Photobooth?” It’s like you’re trying to prove that you have a grand vision of sprawling triple-LPs. Don’t do it. Come back to L.A., where the singles are as quick as our romances and Chris Walla can play with mixing boards the size of Buicks. See these mountains? These ridiculous personalities? These lovely girls? This is why we want to live here. And do.

–August Brown